Martha Beatriz Ruiz (nee Hernandez) died peacefully on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at age 99; she was three months shy of her 100th birthday. Martha was the beloved wife of the late Victor M. Ruiz for 57 years; dear mother of Victor H. (Colleen) Ruiz, M.D., Marta (Joe) Beile, Wendy Ralston, and Gloria (Peter) Distler; beloved grandmother of Jonathan, Alexandra, Kristina, Madeline, Caroline, Victor, Richard, Andrew, our late Christopher James and great grandmother of Judah James.

Born in Dabeiba, Colombia, in 1924, she was the second oldest of eight in the family of Pastor Julio Hernandez Altamar and Dorcas Sanchez. Her parents were missionaries and instilled in Martha the importance of serving others. Martha was named after a close family friend who was an American missionary and was raised in a loving and nurturing environment. When she turned two, the family moved to Barranquilla, where Martha eventually attended the Colegio Americano and learned English. During these early years, Martha started playing the piano; this love for piano, music, and the arts would be her one big passion fueling her soul throughout her life.

In 1943, Martha moved to the U.S. to attend Hanover College in Indiana, where she studied physics and chemistry. She excelled in her academic work while supporting herself financially. Her jobs ranged from cafeteria service to munitions factory work during the war. During her college years, Martha also accompanied the choir and various musical ensembles. In 1948, she graduated from Hanover and returned to Colombia.  Upon her return, she worked as a chemist at a textile factory and later as a teacher. Martha was introduced in 1950 to the love of her life, Victor Manuel Ruiz, a bacteriologist and consummate musician. Martha and Victor completed each other beautifully and music was always at the forefront of their lives. Playing together reflected their hearts for each other.

In 1963, Martha and Victor emigrated to the U.S. with their family. Martha valued education and wanted her children to be educated in this country. Despite their limited resources, Martha and Victor provided a loving and enriching environment for the family to thrive. Martha's love for music inspired her children's and grandchildren's love of the arts. She would take them to the symphony, accompany them to music lessons, and encourage them to pursue their creative outlets. Martha would also join and perform with the Chaminade Music Club for over 30 years. Martha loved spending time with her family and friends. Many were recipients of her warm generosity, witnessing her joy for life. She accompanied the choir at Rock Hill Presbyterian Church for many years, played the piano in nursing homes for friends, and hosted gatherings for the Spanish Poetry Club and the Hispanic American Society. Later, Martha played for the women's circle at her last church home, Ladue Chapel. She was a pioneer and gave wise counsel to the Latin American community in St. Louis, not only in words but also through her selfless actions. One of her many gifts was hospitality.  Friends were always invited to her home for music, delicious food, music, and more music. She loved parties and was affectionately calledthe "party queen" by some grandkids. As an avid NY Times puzzle wizard, Martha was a lifelong learner and encouraged her family towards their achievement of academic and personal growth. During a long car trip to Colorado while in her 90s, Martha became curious about the composition of the coloring of the cliffs. Other passengers were not interested in conversing about geology. Not wanting to change the conversation, Martha continued to pursue the topic and recited the Periodic Table to solve this great mystery. Although Martha never competed on Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire, she would have been a sure contender.

Martha worked in the Neurology Department at Washington University School of Medicine for many years. In her later years, she worked as a histologist at Jewish Hospital. The department head stated that she was an "artist with her cryostat blade" who brought perfectionism to herwork in the studies of monoclonal antibody 1A3, among other subjects. Martha continued to pursue her love of travel and visited Europe, the Middle East (including Syria), Costa Rica, and her native home, Colombia, during her retirement years. She loved immersing herself in the cultures and finding richness in the architecture and other arts. She was fearless, had a pep, and a very active lifestyle.  During one of her trips to Colombia, her car was held up at gunpoint. She refused to relinquish her purse (which contained the only copy of her son's wedding ceremony), proceeding to argue with the assailants. It was only after the gunman shot into the car engine that Martha handed over her purse.

Our hearts deeply ache as we grieve Martha.  We are grateful to have been blessed by having her in our lives and cherish the sweet memories of her presence. We will always remember the many lessons she taught our immediate and extended family. Her strong work ethic, pursuit of achievement, and high standard are reflected in her children's and grandchildren's lives. During her last few days, she declared, "I will see you in heaven," demonstrating her faith in Jesus Christ.

Martha's example of a life well lived gives us inspiration for how we should live. Her love and generosity embodied the words of Jesus, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." Matthew 25: 21. A brief private graveside service is planned for Monday, February 5, at 1:00 p.m. at Forever Bellerive Cemetery, 740 N Mason Rd, St. Louis, MO 63141. Martha's "Celebration of Life" memorial service will be held on June 15, 2024 at Ladue Chapel, 9450 Clayton Rd. Memorial donations may be made to:

Different Dynamics, DifferentDynamicsSTL.org/donate St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, slso.org/donate