For a woman of small stature, Ruth Bader Ginsberg was a woman of great influence, larger than life, she was a person who dedicated her life to the promotion, protection and advocacy of this country’s highest ideals. Known to many as "Notorious RBG  and superhero, she was a true protector of the Light.

Early in Ruth’s life, her mom was stricken with cancer but her mom was determined to see Ruth through High School graduation and she fulfilled this commitment against all odds. Although Ruth’s mom died when she was only 17, she gifted her with what Ruth considered two important life lessons that helped shape Ruth’s life.

First, don’t allow yourself to be overcome with useless emotion, meaning, the best way to win an argument is not to yell as this will turn people away rather than bring them to the table. Ruth was not someone who spoke to impress but was known to be a deep thinker and when she did comment her words held meaning. Ruth was a woman who was adept at building consensus and finding common ground. She believed that one should never respond in anger but to see it as an opportunity to teach.

Secondly, to be independent, self-reliant and able to fend for yourself. Her mother taught her to be responsible and to understand the importance of education.  For in knowledge lies strength and what strength of character Ruth revealed as she passionately defended women’s rights and equal rights for all. She believed that for real enduring change to occur you must build upon the ideals of equality one step at a time. Shed dedicated her life to this quest and her contributions, heroic and enormously significant.

During the red scare era when the government was concerned that there were communists hiding in every closet Ruth was inspired by the lawyers who defended the rights of free speech. The seed was planted and thus began her journey to fight injustice. After graduating law school, Ruth experienced discrimination first hand as no one would hire her; being a woman was an impediment and women were seen as inferior to men.  

While embracing the noble values that her parents taught, Ruth acknowledged  “the determined efforts of men and women who kept dreams of equal citizenship alive in days when few would listen. I stand on the shoulders of brave people, like, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Harriet Tubman.” Inspired as well by Sarah Grimke who was born to a slave holding family and who rejected her family’s southern values to join the abolitionist movement in Philadelphia. In her own fight to end discrimination, Ruth quoted Gemke saying, “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.”

Throughout her incredible life journey Ruth aspired to live in accordance with, “one of the world’s greatest jurists, Judge Learned Hand, who said, “the spirit of liberty that imbues our Constitution must lie first and foremost in the hearts of the men and women who compose this great Nation. A community where the least shall be heard and considered side by side with the greatest. I will keep that wisdom in the front of my mind as long as I am capable of judicial service.”

… And that you certainly did Ruth Bader Ginsburg and our nation mourns for the loss of one so true, whose tireless efforts and engagement with the law was fueled by your all-consuming love and concern for the welfare of others. You had the courage to stand up and be a dissenting voice, advocating for social justice as a fierce defender of minorities to safeguard our treasured values and our nation’s highest ideals.

Liz Sorensen Wessel