Ruth Grace Bunker Novelli, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., passed away at her home on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, after a long struggle with a debilitating stroke suffered in August 2001.
Ruth was the fourth of eight children and the second of four girls. She was born Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25, 1920, at home in New Brunswick, N.J. She was a graduate of New Brunswick High School.
She met her future husband, noted microbiologist G. David “Dave” Novelli, at her grandmother's boarding house, where he lived while attending Rutgers University.
A highlight of Ruth's life was the train trip she took alone from Newark, N.J., via the famed San Diego Chieftain out of Chicago to join and marry Dave in California. It was her first trip away from home and a memorable five days during the height of World War II mobilization. "All those sailors to choose from," she would say smiling, "but I still married the scientist." They were wed Oct. 22, 1943, in La Jolla, Calif.
In 1956, the family moved to Oak Ridge when her husband received an offer to set up his own lab in the Biology Division at Y-12.
A lifelong supporter of the arts, in the 1960s she founded the Ridgeway Gallery along with friends and noted Oak Ridgers Elizabeth Epler, Rose Kenney and Mirjam Koehler. They were instrumental in introducing such local and regional artists as Charles Counts and Hugh Bailey to the community.
In 1980, she and close friend Lois Barter formed the Arts Guild of Oak Ridge, dedicated to the support of the arts and arts education of all forms. During the Guild's 25 year existence, over $50,000 was donated to local artists and area schools’ arts program.
An enthusiastic golfer before a shoulder injury caused her to stop, Ruth is remembered by a generation of Oak Ridge golfers for her work with Junior Golf in the 1960s and '70s.
Her azalea garden, originally started with her husband and recently maintained by her son, has been a well-known landmark on East Drive for over four decades.
Preceded in death by her husband, G. David "Dave" Novelli; her parents, Henrietta Eden Lappert (sic) Bunker and James William Bunker; brothers, Harold William Bunker, James Marshall Bunker and Leo Marsden Bunker; her sisters, Jean Eden Bunker Henning and Mary Bunker Foster; and her niece, Stephanie Bunker Mula.
Ruth is survived by her loving children, daughter Gail Novelli Adams, her husband, Larry, and their daughter, Jennifer, of San Diego, Calif.; and son, Dean Novelli of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; her sister, Marty Bunker Anderson of Waretown, N.J.; her brother, Robert "Bobby" Bunker and wife, Hildegarde, of North Brunswick, N.J.; her sister-in-law, Grace Russi Bunker, of Daphne, Ala.; three nieces and nephews; and eight grandnieces and nephews.
Ruth was especially fond of her only grandchild, Jennifer “Jenn” Adams, and very proud of Jenn's career choice to become a child psychologist specializing in helping children with chronic medical conditions.
During the last years of her life, Ruth was sustained in part by gifts of stuffed bears (and a moose) from family and friends. Art and Sue Bear, their cub Nancy, Angel Bear the Interloper, Tender Hearts the Caregiving Bear, White Bear with No Name, Pinky, and Carlton Moose, as she came to call them, formed a surrogate family that allowed her to vicariously live the kind of active, passionate life the stroke took from her. She will be sadly missed by all.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, Dr. John Stuhl officiating. A celebration of Ruth's life will follow immediately at the family home. Private interment will be in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, Calif., at a later date.
The family wishes to recognize Ruth's son, Dean Novelli, for his devotion to his mother and for providing 24/7 care for the last seven years of her life.
Return to Novelli Family Page.