Obituary: Ruth Cook Brandt, Accomplished Artist

Ruth Cook Brandt truly beloved wife of Martin Brandt (Marty), died in Tiverton, RI on Sunday July 6th. Born in Boston, MA in 1930 to Frances Rosenblatt and Philip Cook, the second of three children, she married in 1952. Ruth and Marty raised three children in Needham, MA and then enjoyed a long and wonderful retirement in Portsmouth, RI.

Ruth graduated from the Boston Museum School in 1951, and was a lifelong artist, producing a wide body of work in ceramics, jewelry, and painting. Her jewelry was on exhibit this spring at the Newport Art Museum, and her paintings exhibited in a solo show this winter in Boston. Many paintings are on permanent loan to hospitals and health organizations around Providence. Ruth’s paintings, which are large, usually abstract views of life and landscape with great color and emotion, have been exhibited through the years at galleries and universities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Ruth believed in "coloring outside the lines" and was inspired by nature, industrial landscapes, and ecological issues.

Ruth was an accomplished pianist, avid ice skater, and started tennis, hiking and skiing with gusto as an adult. After losing their daughter Laurel, as a child, Ruth and Marty learned to love each day. For many years they found respite in New Hampshire, hiking most of the 4000 footers, skiing frequently, and creating lively fun among family and friends. “In retirement" Ruth taught drawing and painting at the Newport Art Museum in the warmer months, and at the Von Lieb Center in Naples, FL in the winter. Ruth and Marty travelled the world, always finding new inspiration for her work. In particular travel to the Amazon and parts of Latin America inspired a popular rain forest series of paintings. As an active volunteer on Aquidneck Island, Ruth has been a leader in the American Association of University Women and frequently ushered at tennis matches and music festivals in Newport.

Ruth has fought a set of complicated health issues culminating in competing types of cancer. She spoke eloquently just days ago, knowing that she was ready and had no regrets in her marvelous life and 62 years of marriage and partnership with Marty. Ruth leaves behind her husband Martin, daughter Dale, of Pepperell, MA, son Jeffrey (married to Patricia Roka) and two adored grandchildren, Luce and Eli Brandt, of Salem, MA, brother Gerald of Lakeworth, FL, and the families of her two brothers. Her older brother Sumner Cook is deceased.

A funeral service will be held at Sakonnet Bay, 1215 Main Street, Tiverton, RI at 10 AM on Wednesday July 9, 2014. Burial will follow at 1:30 at Sharon Memorial Park, 120 Canton Street, Sharon, MA. Friends and family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.  For online condolences, please visit O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home www.onhfh.com.