Irwin Ruttenberg

Irwin Ruttenberg, age 101, son of the late Minerva and Leon Ruttenberg, devoted husband of the late Renee, and loving companion to the late Maxine Beloff, passed away on Jan. 14, 2025. He will be missed by his younger sister, Anita Spitzer(Joe, z’l), children Paula and Craig Sobel, and Alan and Joan Ruttenberg. He is survived by his beloved 12 grandchildren: Melissa and Max Snyder, Danielle Ruttenberg and Terry Grugan, Amber Ruttenberg and Nicolas Holland, Joel Sobel and Nicole ElMurr, Matt and Becca Litman, and Seth Litman and Paulina Wine. Lucky enough to survive until the age of 101, he was G-pop to 8 great-grandchildren: Micah, Eli and Abby Snyder, Timothy and Aisling Grugan, Harim Sobel, and Sloane and Hadley Litman, all of whom brought him great joy. His family is grateful to Maxine’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who maintained their connection with him long after Maxine’s passing. Irwin considered them family and looked forward to their visits and phone calls. 

Irwin was a WW II Army veteran, serving overseas in England, France and Belgium. He returned to the US, went to college on the GI Bill, and worked for many years as an accountant after marrying Renee. They raised their children in the community known as 2nd and Cheltenham, in what Paula and Alan remember as a traditional, tightly packed Jewish neighborhood, where everyone was close and knew everyone else. After Renee’s passing, after 44 years of marriage, he met Maxine and they had many happy years together celebrating both families’ milestone events and traveling the country. He was always meticulous with organization, numbers, details, and even completed his own income taxes well into his 90’s. After moving to Artman at age 98, he learned to use an iPad, watch Netflix and Hulu movies, and call his family using FaceTime and Alexa devices. Always commenting on his kind, gentle, polite manner, the staff at Artman were caring, friendly, and engaging, which helped ease the transition to his new home.

Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at 10 AM precisely at Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Funeral Directors, 6410 N. Broad St. Phila., PA 19126. Interment Har Nebo Cemetery, Phila., PA. 

A Livestream of the service will be available by clicking this link: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTczNjg4NTYwNjM0NTQ2NCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Shiva will be held at the home of Paula and Craig Sobel, Thursday following interment until 5 PM. Minyan will take place at 7 PM. Shiva will continue Friday from 12 Noon – 5 PM.

For those who are interested, donations in his memory are requested to Artman Benevolent Care Fund (7002 Butler Pike Ambler, PA 19002), or Beth Sholom Congregation (8231 Old York Rd. Elkins Park, PA 19027) or Rodeph Sholom Congregation (615 N. Broad St. Phila., Pa 19123).