Ruth Kemelman Rooks passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, surrounded by family. Ruth was born in Boston, the eldest daughter of author Harry Kemelman and local icon Anne (Kessin) Kemelman. She moved to Marblehead as a teenager, and after college and brief stays in New York City and Delaware with her husband, George, she settled back on the North Shore where she felt most at home.
Ruth was a wonderfully talented artist who shared her love and enthusiasm for art with students of all ages and levels of experience. She found her passion for teaching early with the city of Revere and Camp Columbus/Columbia in Danvers. Her years spent in Hamilton-Wenham, Marblehead and at Cohen Hillel Academy were particularly rewarding — she had a rare gift of connecting with middle school students. One of her tricks was to insist they remain seated, which was the only time she had a height advantage over the growing pre-teens.
Ruth was active in the arts community in Boston where she was elected as a Copley Artist, in the Marblehead Arts Association and in the North Shore Arts Association. She was the former president of the Swampscott Arts Association and a founding member of ReachArts. She proudly shared her talent for painting with novice and accomplished artists, although she was a fierce advocate for arts of all media.
Her interests and accomplishments were broad and extensive beyond the arts. She was a talented and dedicated bridge player, and she treasured the communities she met through weekly games both at the JCC and at home with friends. Ruth had boundless energy, and when she saw an opportunity to improve her community, she made it happen. She was immensely proud of her role in founding the Swampscott Tides newspaper, and as a board member of Congregation Ahavat Shalom, where she was instrumental in distributing funds to organizations benefitting in-need local Jewish community members.
Ruth and her husband George are blessed with an extensive circle of devoted friends, in the community and around the world, who were an incredibly important part of their lives.
Ruth is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years,George Rooks, sister Diane Volk, daughter Nina Rooks Cast and husband Jim Cast, daughter Jennifer Rooks Dolin and husband Eric Jay Dolin, son Jared Rooks, four cherished grandchildren, David, Lily, Harry and Michael, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ruth was dynamic, dedicated, loyal, passionate and proud — of her family, her friends and her community. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed at Swampscott Arts Association, Swampscott Tides newspaper and the Friends of Swampscott Library
