Ruby Inouye Shu, MD
November 17, 1920 - September 24, 2012
Obituary
Ruby passed away quietly on Monday, September 24, 2012 surrounded by many loved ones, in the heart of the Japanese community, after a long struggle with cancer and heart disease.
Ruby was born November 17, 1920 in Seattle, WA to Tsuyoshi & Yayoi Inouye and had 3 sisters and 2 brothers. She attended Broadway High School where she graduated in 1939. She went on to the University of Washington but left in 1942 due to the WWII evacuation of the Japanese & Japanese-Americans from the West Coast. Ruby and her family were sent to the Minidoka Relocation Camp in Idaho in August of 1942 where she worked as a nurse’s aide at the hospital. In February of 1943, she left the concentration camp and travelled by train to Austin, Texas to complete her undergraduate studies. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas in June 1944 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Subsequently, she attended the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania and received her medical degree in 1948. Due to the prevailing prejudice against Japanese at the time, she was not initially granted an internship. However, the dean of the medical school intervened and found her an internship at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh. She later returned to Washington State where she was licensed as an M.D. in July 1949 and became the first Japanese-American (possibly Asian-American) woman doctor in Seattle. As a professional woman, Dr. Ruby had to learn to juggle career and family at a time when most women were expected to stay at home raising their children. Her pride and joy during her medical practice were the 1,066 babies that she delivered. She retired in December 1995 at the age of 75. She was an active and energetic board member of the Seattle Keiro Nursing Home which was started in 1975. In addition, she participated in many activities at the Japanese Baptist Church. Her favorite hobbies were sewing and quilting which she utilized to make many crafts for fundraising events. Her spirit was always one of giving, constantly thinking of others but never of herself. Her greatest challenge in life was learning to receive. She was a firm believer in the importance of family and community and will be sorely missed.
Dr. Ruby is survived by sisters, Frances & Lillian, brothers, Howard & Lloyd, son, Evan (Annamarie), daughters, Geraldine & Karen (Richard Minutoli), 3 grandchildren, Niccolo, Amanda, & Nathaniel, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband (Evan), parents (Tsuyoshi & Yayoi), older sister (Bessie) and 2 grandchildren (Noah & Melanie). The memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 2pm at Japanese Baptist Church, 160 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122. The family requests that donations in her memory be made to Nikkei Concerns, Japanese Baptist Church, or the charity of your choice.
For more information about Dr. Ruby, please see
http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/watchVideos.asp?program=communityStories
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=10053
Ruby was a remarkable woman, blessed with many gifts and talents which she used to the fullest to bless others. She is now and will always be missed and lovingly remembered.
We love you dear Ruby. You were ,and always will be, a hero to me. Thank you for granting me the privilige of showing my love to you. I love you always and forever.
Leslie
Thought small in stature Dr Ruby stands out in my mind as a giant. I had the privilege to work with her for many years as a fellow physician and am proud to have also had her as a friend. Despite a very busy family practice schedule, she always took the time to assist me with surgeries on her patients. She would hold their hands as they went to sleep and you could see in the patient’s eyes that they knew everything would be OK with Dr Ruby there to supervise. I cherish my memories of her and will miss her genuine compassion kindly manner.
Ruby and I attended Women’s Medical together back in the 40’s. She was a great friend and I will miss her.
Dr. Ruby made such an impact on my mom, I was given Ruby as my middle name.
What an extraordinary woman – wife, mother, physician and friend.
She will be remembered fondly and dearly missed. Our deepest condolences.
My Grandmother, Dr. Sybil D. Haire (Willi) spoke of Dr. Ruby often. I was told they were college roommates and life long friends. My Grandmother enjoyed talking about their trip to Mt. Rainier. She always spoke very highly of Dr. Ruby. I’m sorry for your loss. My Grandma passed 2 years ago. I wonder what kind of trouble those two are getting themselves into up there!