Ruth Kruidenier is honored posthumously for her devotion to family, church and community. She raised three children as a widow and enjoyed a long career with the U.S. Customs office. A dedicated volunteer, she founded the League of Women Voters of North San Mateo County, served as its first president and remained an active leader for 50 years. She was a founding member of the San Bruno Friends of the Library and the San Bruno City Council’s representative to the Peninsula System Library Advisory Board. Ms. Kruidenier was a “hands-on” volunteer, known for the “trademark” yellow gloves she wore every week to clean and sort books for fund-raising sales. In 2001, her church joined the Interfaith Hospitality Network, which provides shelter for homeless families, and she signed on to help. Ms. Kruidenier undertook this job as she did all her projects, with great attention to detail and a sense of fun. Before leaving each night, she quietly checked the accommodations, smoothed the linens and placed a wrapped candy on each pillow. The State Assembly, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and South San Francisco City Council all have honored Ms. Kruidenier posthumously. She will be long remembered as a woman of great personal strength, deep integrity, keen intellect and a very warm heart.
