Ruth B. Harvey, training specialist and author

Posted 6/7/11

Ruth Ballentine Harvey, 69, formerly of Mt. Airy, an organizational and group development specialist and author, died May 31 of complications of ALS at her home in Roxborough. Until retiring four …

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Ruth B. Harvey, training specialist and author

Posted

Ruth Ballentine Harvey, 69, formerly of Mt. Airy, an organizational and group development specialist and author, died May 31 of complications of ALS at her home in Roxborough.

Until retiring four years ago, Ms. Harvey had worked with her husband, James Martin, preparing customized training programs for large worksites.

She also was the author of two books, “Connecting in Philadelphia: 512 Great Places to Enjoy Yourself and Meet New People,” and, with Diane R. de Castro, “Connecting in San Francisco: 693 Great Places to Enjoy Yourself and Meet New People.”

Earlier she had been an individual and family psychotherapist and had taught at Bryn Mawr College and Rutgers University. She had also been a counselor in the Philadelphia school system.

Ms. Harvey was known for her involvement in multiple activities and social causes, and had been a 21st Ward committeeperson until forced to retire two years ago because of her illness. She had been a volunteer for the tall ship Gazela Primeiro, and had participated in nearly every antiwar and civil rights march on Washington going back to the 1970s.

She was an avid community gardener, and, after harvesting her crop, would make regular deliveries of produce to food pantries in West Philadelphia. She sang with the Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, and enjoyed sailing, golf, photography and line dancing.

Ms. Harvey was born in Washington, D.C., and attended schools in Potomac, Md. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Antioch College and a Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, David; a daughter, Ruth; a sister, Carol Ballentine, and four grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at St. Malachy Church, 1429 N. Eleventh St., in Philadelphia. Memorial donations may be made to Project Learn School, 6525 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19119. – WF

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