OBITUARY: Ruth Lillian Wexler

Ruth Lillian Wexler, 88, of Sarasota and formerly of Longboat Key, died Aug. 12.

Born June 12, 1922, in Regina, Saskatchewan, she and her family later moved to Montreal, where she graduated from McGill University. After postgraduate work as Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Mass., she married her husband, Jack, in 1946.

Mr. and Mrs. Wexler raised their family in Baltimore before moving to Longboat Key in 1975. They were founding members of Temple Beth Israel, and Mrs. Wexler served as president of the Beth Israel Sisterhood. She also served on the board of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Sarasota-Manatee Inc.

Mrs. Wexler is remembered by friends and family for her joie de vivre, kindness and self-stated philosophy of life, which was to “be thankful for my blessings and sensitive to the needs of others.”

Mrs. Wexler is survived by sons Bruce, Richard and Steve; five grandchildren; and special friend, Gershom Cohn.

A funeral service was held Sunday, Aug. 15, at Temple Beth Israel. Interment followed at Temple Beth Sholom Cemetery in Sarasota.