Ruth Louise Borovicka

On January 30, Ruth Borovicka took her last bow, the curtain closing on her life this side of Heaven. She had been residing at The Lindley Inn for the past four years.

Ruth was born September 16, 1930 to Roy Oliver Beishline and Helen Louise Beishline (nee Smith) in Easton, Pennsylvania. The seminal event of Ruth’s life occurred at age three when her mother passed. The following year, her father surrendered her to the loving care of his great aunt, Ruth Whitenight (nee Beishline) and her husband Alva Whitenight who adopted her. Their warm vibrant home provided her with much needed stability and comfort during her childhood. Her adored and adoring father, Alva, passed away suddenly a few month’s before Ruth graduated high school. 

With her mother’s strong guidance, Ruth entered New York University’s School of Dramatic Arts that fall. While earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from NYU, she met and fell in love with Henry Borovicka, another member of the program. They married in 1953, settling in Bayside, Queens, and embarked on careers as speech and drama teachers in the Great Neck Long Island school system. In 1958, their son, Karl, was born and in 1967, their daughter, Kristina, arrived. Following Kristina’s birth, Ruth resigned from teaching and devoted her energies completely to her family. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Henry experienced several health crises, including two heart valve replacement surgeries and an incapacitating stroke. Her love and devotion was challenged many times over the years but she never waivered. 

Following Henry’s passing in 1992, Ruth embarked on a joy-filled retirement career with several theatre companies and choral groups on Long Island and in Athens where she eventually settled to be near her daughter, son-in-law Chris Gerig, and beloved grandsons, Joe and Henry. After more than 55 years in New York City, Ruth adapted to Athens with all the grace and good humour she exhibited throughout her life. She easily added to her scores of friends back east through her new activities in Ohio. 

Her most profound interest in Athens, however, was her family, specifically her grandsons. Despite the fact that her knowledge of sports and participation in athletics was minimal (at best…), she was a devoted and vocal supporter of “her boys” at their various meets and games – though she was most in her element at their school plays, piano recitals, and band concerts. Among her happiest times and among the family’s happiest memories are evenings in her little Athens “cottage”, gathered at her table, granddog Boomer snuffling around beneath, enjoying a delicious Grannie Sunday Dinner. She poured her love into taking care of her family and we will carry that with us always. 

Surviving are daughter Kristina Borovicka Gerig and son-in-law Christian Gerig of Athens, grandsons Joe Gerig of Silver Spring, Maryland and Henry Gerig of Athens and Indianapolis, and half-sisters Dorothy Weiss and Mary Renshaw. 

She was preceded in death by her four parents, her husband, her son, her half-brother Richard Beishline, and her half-sisters Coreen Weaver and Carol Chegwidden.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hughes Funeral Home of Athens. A private family memorial will take place at a later date.

In honor of Ruth’s memory and the more than sixty productions in which she performed, please break out a couple of classic show tunes and sing loud and joyously. For those interested, kindly consider a contribution to the ABC Players at: Athenian Berean Community Players P.O. Box 283 Athens, Ohio 45701. Those who wish to sign the online guestbook, leave the family a message of sympathy, or contribute to the Athenian Berean Community Players may do so at the funeral home website, www.ehwfh.com.