Remembering Ruth Johnson

Ruth wins F80+ at 2016 Troll Cup
Photo: David Yee

Longtime NEOC member/volunteer and repeat National Champion, Ruth Johnson died Sunday, March 8, at age 87.

Her neighbor in Falmouth, Maine, Tony Federer (himself a NEOC veteran) reports that "She joined NEOC in the 1970s. From 1977 through 2013 she won an astounding 23 U.S. National Classic Championships, always in the oldest class at the time, starting with F43+ and ending with F80+!"

Ruth appears in NEOC results going back to the first "online" posting: Menotomy Rocks, March 26, 2000. If you have copies of the pre-web NEOC Times, you will no doubt find her in prior meet results.

A thread of remembrances is on Attackpoint.

From Judy Karpinski and Jeff Saeger —

We have such wonderful memories of orienteering with Ruth in the woods. As others have said, she was quiet, but thoughtful and always willing to help out. Her spirit and love for orienteering was obvious and we will miss her.