We are sad to tell you that our friend and colleague, Ruth McCutcheon Director of Development for the Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory, passed away on July 29, 2019, after a courageous battle with cancer. We offer our deepest condolences to her children Grace and Henry, and to her parents Jim and Martha McCutcheon. Ruth was a leader in our efforts to connect with public and philanthropic contributors supporting the Department and Steward Observatory. Her ability to build positive relationships between individuals and communities will be greatly missed by all of us.
Ruth, with the help of her family and friends, recently created the Ruth McCutcheon Steward Observatory Postdoctoral Fellows Research Endowment to help support the research of our Steward Observatory Prize Postdoctoral Fellows and postdoctoral researchers of Steward Observatory in general. Our academic community is brightened and strengthened by the presence and activities of our Fellows. We are grateful that Ruth recognized their key contributions and singled them out for her support. Please consider making a donation, in Ruth's honor, to this endowment.
Yours most sincerely,
Buell Jannuzi
Head, Department of Astronomy
Director, Steward Observatory
Photo 1: Ruth in front of the oven at the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab at the University of Arizona.
Photo 2: Ruth doing what she loved best, communicating with people.
Photo 3: Ruth looking at the 2017 Solar Eclipse; taken by Alan Strauss, the other two linked photos by Cathi Duncan, and the front-page photo by Frank Gacon)