Ruth Leah Green Kain-Palmer
Ruth passed away on August 20, 2023.
Born in 1921 at the family home on Princess Avenue in Camden, New Jersey, Ruth grew up in Woodbury, New Jersey, graduating from Woodbury High School in 1938. She was active in school theatre and the debate team. Ruth continued her education in Philadelphia, graduating from the Philadelphia Business College in 1939 in the Medical Secretarial Program.
She was immediately employed by Jefferson Hospital and ultimately became the Executive Assistant to Hobart A. Reimann, M.D., Professor of Medicine. During that time, medical students participated in clinical trials for new medications. Ruth was responsible to help coordinate the trial for penicillin and medical students had to be registered by her in the office of the Professor of Medicine.
In May of 1943, Ruth married one of those medical students, who served as an intern at Cooper Hospital in Camden and ultimately became Cooper’s Chief of Medicine. The couple had three children, the late Thomas M. Kain, III MD (Mary) of Newtown Square, PA, William S. Kain (Karen), of Cherry Hill, N.J., Dennis J. Kain (Pamela), of Moorestown, N.J. Ruth is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. With some help from her nephew, Gene Kain, of Haddonfield, Ruth is known as “Aunt Ruth” to many.
In 1986, Ruth married Joseph Palmer. The ceremony was held at the home of Gunther and Betty Ibbeken and presided over by then Mayor of Tavistock, Samuel Fulton. Joseph pre-deceased her in 1994.
Ruth was active in the community, most notably as a volunteer for Cooper Hospital, where she first began serving in 1948. Ultimately, she chaired several volunteer organizations at Cooper, including: the Junior Auxiliary (1953-1955); the Doctor’s Wives Auxiliary (1961-1962); the Maternity Auxiliary (1978-1979); and the Association of Auxiliaries (1980). Her longtime service to the Women’s Board at Cooper, where she served as Vice Chair in 1980, and the Cooper Foundation led Cooper University Healthcare to present Ruth with a special recognition in 2016.
Other community activities included serving as Chair of the Camden County Women’s Medical Auxiliary and as the initial Chair of the Heart Fund Drive in Haddonfield in 1954. She helped coordinate a unique program on Women’s Health that was held at the Haddonfield Fortnightly that featured a speaker from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, C. Everett Koop, MD. The large turnout required assistance from RCA in Cherry Hill, who provided a closed-circuit telecast so that attendees could watch from the entry-level of the building.
More recently, she served as President of the John Estaugh Chapter of Questers from 2002-2004.
For all of Ruth’s numerous contributions, activities, and volunteerism, family was the most important and driving force in her life. Her son William commented, “Over the decades and despite some unique circumstances, Mom worked hard to maintain closeness in the family. Perhaps the most influential event was her hosting the traditional Christmas dinner, followed by the competitive ‘Tie Contest’ which saw the winner (spanning three generations) take home the coveted trophy.”
Ruth’s family will receive friends and family on Friday, August 25th, 9-9:45 AM at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 499 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034; where her Service will follow at 10 AM. Interment, private.
Memorial contributions in honor of Ruth may be made to The Cooper Foundation, One Cooper Plaza, Camden, NJ 08103 (https://foundation.cooperhealth.org/give/gifts-to-honor-or-remember/)or to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 499 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 (www.trinpres.org/) where Ruth was a longtime active member.
**Route 70 is under construction, as you approach the church take the first available entrance into the church’s parking lot.**