On December 6th, 2024 Ruth Ann Townsend, of North Fresno, passed away peacefully at home with support, love, and care. Ruth was born in Grand Coulee, Washington on April 5th, 1943 to parents Charles and Marion Fasoldt. She loved and supported her family,  referring to them as the "most important part of my life!", as well as her many friends, social groups/clubs, and various community organizations throughout her lifetime. Her passion for community and social justice led her to pursue an education and career in Social Work, where many clients and co-professionals benefitted from her expertise in the field. Prior to her undergraduate education, she actively participated in her high school as exemplified by her roles as president of her high school sorority (Beta Kappa), assistant editor of the yearbook, science fair presenter, and participation in the basketball team and drill team. She attended Buffalo State University in New York and, while making the Dean's List nearly every semester, graduated with her B.A. in 1965 as well as completing their Masters of Social Work program in 1967, following a fellowship from the Kennedy Foundation.

Ruth fought for many social causes and made active efforts towards creating a world with more equality, which was partly inspired by her mother's history in advocating for women's rights. She participated in charities, non-profits, and peaceful protests for causes she believed in. She organized and taught classes to empower women, especially single mothers, to embrace being single and independent during an era of time when that wasn't widely encouraged. Prior to working as a licensed clinical social worker with her own successful private practice as many may know her, she was also supervisor for Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC) for 32 years, where she managed the team that provided services for developmentally disabled children and adults. She stayed involved in the local community and was familiar with many people in many different fields of work. She volunteered a lot throughout her life, and even most recently volunteered for the American Red Cross during the wildfires that struck the Central Valley and other parts of California in 2020.

As further demonstration for the love she had for social gathering and community, here is a list of groups that she was proud to be involved with: Fresno Book Club (2 clubs for 20 years), Bunco group, Canasta (regular and hand and foot canasta) groups, Fresno Joggers (over 30 years), Fresno Ski Club (over 30 years), Gestalt therapy group (over 40 years), Single Moms Indian Guide group,  Women's-focused groups (finance, etc.), and there may be more missing from this list that she participated in. We are sure there are many in those groups reading this now, and her family thanks you for sharing so many fun memories with her as well as providing her support when and if she needed it.

Prior to living in California, Ruth spent her early years in Washington before moving to Buffalo, and then eventually to Syracuse, New York. During her childhood in Syracuse, she loved spending summers in the Adirondack Mountains at Piseco Lake with her parents and her brother Chuck. They would move into their mobile home at Half Moon Beach when school was out for summer and spent many wonderful hours in their wooden boat water skiing and driving around the lake, as she has personally described herself.

Ruth has always admired the beauty in nature. This led to her prioritizing a healthy lifestyle and pursuing outdoor excursions and activities that she could share with others, such as running, cycling, skiing, etc. This was evidenced by her participation in many clubs, groups, gym classes, marathons, events, such as the Fresno Joggers running club, the Fresno Ski Club, The Twin Cities Marathon, Break the Barriers, etc. and many more. Most of her favorite memories include some of the trips she's taken with these groups, such as the Fresno Ski Club trips to Park City, Sun Valley, Breckridge, and Bampf, Canada which she got to share with her late husband Ray Opper and other club members. She credited her love for nature to her father. She dedicated a bench in his honor which describes his appreciation for the outdoors in the city of Fresno available to anyone walking along the street of Shepard.

As much as she had a love for nature, she had a passion for traveling! She visited various places in the United States such as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, etc.; and, she also visited nearly every major country around the world, such as Africa, Canada, England, Egypt, Fiji, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and so many more with her family and friends, like Patricia Nielsen who was her traveling partner for many of these trips. Ruth valued the trips she took with her son Eric and granddaughter Jessica, specifically mentioning the trip to England with Eric when he was in sixth grade; the trip to England with Jessica in 2011; the trip to Italy in 2012 with Eric, her daughter-in-law Crissy, and Jessica; and, the birthday trip to Japan in 2019 with Jessica. She fondly recalled Eric loving to ride the trains in England. She would joyfully describe the time she and Jessica saw the side of the Queen of England in a motorcade passing the Night motor bus they were on. She was in awe of the beauty of the arts and the remnants of Rome, enjoying the sights, sounds, and food with Eric, Crissy, and Jessica. She cherished wearing kimonos in Shibuya for a photoshoot with Jessica while exploring Tokyo, Japan. She was extremely proud that her only son and only granddaughter planned two of her favorite trips, as she desired to share her passion. Her family thanks Patricia and everyone who traveled with Ruth and made her memories abroad so pleasant that she couldn't help but smile when sharing her stories and pictures of each trip.

Over the last decade of her life, she spent most of her time between Fresno and her cabin at Shaver Lake with her partner Tom Moock, her family, as well as her friends going on many hikes, boat rides at the lake, playing bridge and canasta, discussing books, attending and hosting as many groups as she could, snowshoeing, and other fun memories. Tom Moock was a supportive partner during the challenges she faced in the remaining years of her life. His cooking and shared interests kept her spirits high during low times and she loved him very much. Her strength and determination to live life to the fullest is something that inspires us all, and will continue to motivate us forward as we continue life without our beloved Ruth. She was loved by so many, and also loved so many.

Ruth is predeceased by her father Charles Fasoldt, her mother Marion Fasoldt. She is survived, and will be missed by, her partner Tom Moock, her brother "Chuck" Charles Fasoldt, her son Eric Gandolfo and daughter-in-law Christina Gandolfo, and her granddaughter Jessica Gandolfo.

There will be a celebration of life held on January 21st, 2025 at Pardini's from 11:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. in Room Salon B.

Please join us in celebrating the adventurous and amazing life of Ruth Townsend.