Bridger, Ruth

Birth

Ruth Bridger was born on March 22, 1928 in Cooperstown, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Floyd Bridger and Ida Thayer Bridger. Her brothers and sisters were:

• Beverly Bridger Blessin, and her husband, Arthur
• Norman Bridger
• Raymond Bridger
• Robert Bridger
• Everett Bridger
• Dorothy Bridger
• Thelma Bridger
• Helen Bridger
• Dora Bridger

Occupation

Ruth Bridger started teaching social studies and math at Berne-Knox Central School. After her marriage, she became a homemaker and substituted teaching. She also worked part-time in the family business and subsequently full-time with her husband after becoming the owners of the Frank Hart & Son Agway Store until selling the business and retiring in 2000.

Marriage & Children

Ruth Bridger married Milton J. Hart Jr. in 1950. Their children were:

• Susan Hart DiMuria and her husband, Dennis, of Delmar
• Constance Hart Schmitt and her husband, Donald, of Penfield, N.Y.

Death

Ruth Bridger Hart died from Alzheimer’s disease at Bethlehem Commons Residential Care Center at Good Samaritan Village on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. She was 84.

Obituary

Ruth Bridger Hart

Ruth Bridger Hart — a teacher, a homemaker, and a businesswoman — died from Alzheimer’s disease at Bethlehem Commons Residential Care Center at Good Samaritan Village on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. She was 84.

Born on March 22, 1928 in Cooperstown, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Floyd Bridger and Ida Thayer Bridger. She graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1945 and The New York State College for Teachers at Albany (now the University at Albany) in 1949.

She started teaching social studies and math at Berne-Knox Central School. After her marriage, she became a homemaker and substituted teaching. She also worked part-time in the family business and subsequently full-time with her husband after becoming the owners of the Frank Hart & Son Agway Store until selling the business and retiring in 2000.

Mrs. Hart was a member of the First Reformed Church of Berne where she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school for many years and was active in the Reformed Church of Women, having held various offices.

She was also active in the Berne-Knox Parent-Teacher Association and spent many years volunteering as homeroom mother. She was also a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader. She was a life member and past president of the Berne Volunteer Fire Auxiliary and a member of the former Foxenkill Grange.

“Ruth enjoyed boating, camping and traveling,” her family wrote in a tribute. “With her husband, she loved visiting state capitols and historical places. She enjoyed sightseeing in the many cities traveling to her husband’s reunions. The enormous love for her grandchildren and great-grandsons and keeping up with their various activities occupied most of her spare time.”

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Milton J. Hart Jr.; her two daughters, Susan Hart DiMuria and her husband, Dennis, of Delmar, and Constance Hart Schmitt and her husband, Donald, of Penfield, N.Y.

She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Christopher Hart DiMuria and his wife, Deanna, of Plymouth, Minn.; Adam Hart DiMuria of Gilbert, Ariz.; Laura Schmitt Davies and her husband, Captain Evan Davies, of Cambridge, Mass.; Michael Thomas Schmitt of Penfield, N.Y.; and Emily Hart DiMuria of Delmar. She is survived, too, by her great-grandsons, Nicolas Ettore and Anthony Joseph DiMuria of Plymouth, Minn.

She is also survived by one sister, Beverly Bridger Blessin, and her husband, Arthur; two sisters-in-laws, Shirley Bridger and Sara Bridger; and many loving nieces and nephews. Her brothers — Norman, Raymond, Robert, and Everett — died before her as did her sisters — Dorothy, Thelma, Helen, and Dora.

Calling hour will be today, Oct. 4, at The First Reformed Church of Berne, 1664 Helderberg Trail, Berne, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be on Friday at 11 a.m. at the church with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to The First Reformed Church of Berne or The Berne Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary. The family thanks the management and staff at “Good Sam” for their compassionate and special care during her stay as well as Community Hospice and Rev. Bob Hoffman for his many visits.

Altamont Enterprise - October 4, 2012

Additional Media

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