Ruth Martinick

Ruth  , 87, beloved wife and mother, passed away on December 13, 2020 in Albuquerque, NM.

Ruth was born in Rockford, IL to the late Nelson and Evelyn Dermody on May 27, 1933. She graduated from Marquette University as a Dental Hygienist. She met her husband at Marquette and married Dr. Stephen Martnick at Burtonwood AFB in England on July 4, 1955. She and Steve raised their family while serving twenty four years in the United States Air Force. Assignments including England,Turkey and seven different duty stations in the U.S. before making Tucson, AZ home upon retirement. Ruth worked as a dental hygienist for 20 years in Tucson. The last several years of her career she worked with her husband, who was a dentist, and commuted to Benson, AZ several days a week. Her working helped provide her children with the means for private catholic education (St. Cyril's and Salpointe Catholic High School) and supporting all their children through a college education and beyond.    

As a younger child living in Rockford, IL Ruth enjoyed ice skating.  She loved old movies and musicals. When she settled in Tucson she participated regularly in league bowling and was impressively good. Ruth attended University of Arizona football (tailgate) games. She and Steve would organize annual Christmas parties that their friends looked forward to as an annual tradition. In her older years she loved watching crime shows and shopping via QVC. Ruth was an avid reader and crossword puzzle fanatic. She enjoyed her weekly tabloid reading. Ruth was active in her Catholic faith and within her church communities. She volunteered for several years as part of the Blue Army through St. Joseph's Church. Upon Ruth’s relocation to Albuquerque, NM she served as the communion service coordinator at La Vida Llena. Ruth traveled with her husband and tour groups to Medjugorje in Bosnia several times at different parts of the world. He favorite being the Island of Capri in Italy. She would also travel to visit her grown children and help with her grand kids in any way she could.  She loved her family deeply.   

Ruth is preceded in death by husband Stephen and son, Gregory. She is survived by her children, Stephen (Maureen), Mary (Dennis) Sheehan, Blaise (Carla) and Melanie (David) Cole, her brother, Harry Dermody, and ten grandchildren.

A private funeral and burial service was held on December 29, 2020 at Our Lady of the Desert in Tucson, AZ. with live streaming from some family members that could not attend due to COVID-19. Funeral arrangements were handled by Daniels (Albuquerque) and Brings (Tucson) Mortuaries.  

Ruth was a big supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project. Any donations in her honor would be appreciated.