Ruth Rosenbaum
Competition | 1981
Hometown: Fort Lee, New Jersey
Ruth was born in 1944 to Walter and Catrine Broemmer, the third of three girls. At the age of 5 months she contracted polio which left her significantly paralyzed. Many years of therapy using the Sister Kenny methods and leg surgery at Saint Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson, New York that was dedicated to polio victims, gave her limited use of her arms. Although Ruth used a wheelchair for her entire life, that never hindered her zest for life and adventure whenever possible.
Ruth participated in school at Plandome Road School via an intercom system followed up by the teachers home visits after school. She attended Garden City High School where she was able to use the elevator to attend classes.
Ruth went on to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, where she was introduced to wheelchair sports. She then attended Hofstra University for graduate studies in Psychology and English. She was employed as an AVP at Chase Manhattan Bank.
Ruth competed in seven Paralympic Games, first competing in track and field and later in table tennis. Ruth was a key member of Team USA in the 1972 Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany; 1976 Paralympics in Toronto, Canada; the 1980 games in Arnhem, Neatherlands; the 1984 competition in New York and Stoke-Mandeville; the 1988 games in Seoul, South Korea; the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain; and the 1996 games in Atlanta. In all, Ruth garnered 3 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 1 bronze medal. She won the first gold medal in wheelchair slalom for the United States in the 1972 games. Ruth also competed in the competitions around the world, including Australia, China, England, France, Italy and Korea, as well as national competitions in New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; and San Jose, California.
Ruth’s overall athletic ability and longevity over time were an inspiration to all.
