[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15041-15042]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING RUTH QUACKENBUSH DODGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2001

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the passing of 
an Ohioan and American of note. Ruth Quackenbush Dodge died of heart 
failure earlier this year at her Maumee River Estate in Wood County's 
Middleton Township. Mrs. Dodge was 90 years old.
  Ruth Quackenbush Dodge was born into one of New York State's founding 
Dutch dynasties, and spent her childhood in New York City, Vermont and 
Connecticut, where she was graduated from Miss Porter's school in 
Farmington. After then attending classes at the New York School of 
Social Work, Ruth joined the Junior League of New York City at age 18, 
thus beginning her long history of volunteerism.
  A few years later, Miss Quackenbush met Henry Martin Dodge of Toledo. 
They were married shortly thereafter, and made their home at Elmbrook 
Farm in Perrysburg, making the new Mrs. Dodge, at age 22, the first 
member of her family to reside west of the Hudson River. In her new 
home, Mrs. Dodge continued her volunteer work, transferring to the 
Junior League of Toledo--for which she

[[Page 15042]]

served as president from 1936 to 1938--and organizing, in 1948, the 
Volunteer Bureau of the Toledo Council of Social Agencies. This 
organization was the forerunner of today's Volunteer Action Center of 
the United Way of Greater Toledo, which dedicated the Ruth Q. Dodge 
Volunteer Garden on the grounds of One Stranahan Square in 1994. It was 
my honor at that time as well to praise Mrs. Dodge's accomplishments 
before this body.
  Mrs. Dodge also pursued her passion for the environment, raising milk 
cows and soybeans in an environmentally responsible manner before the 
issue became mainstream, and helped further the exploration of Maumee 
River Valley history by opening her property for several archeological 
digs undertaken by the University of Toledo. A strong supporter of both 
the education and the arts, especially the Toledo Opera Association and 
the Toledo Museum of Art, Mrs. Dodge sat on the board of trustees of 
Miss Porter's school and served as president of the Country Garden Club 
from 1945 to 1946.
  These few words cannot truly do justice to the outstanding life of 
this woman who was so dedicated to the ideals of civic service and 
volunteerism. Remembered by her friend Mr. Lewis Heldt for ``all of her 
accomplishments over her long, active lifetime,'' as well as for her 
efforts in her role as Honorary Chairperson for the last Fallen Timbers 
Battlefield fund drive, Ruth Quackenbush Dodge and her good works will 
truly be missed. We extend to her son David, her five grandchildren, 
and her six great-grandchildren our deepest condolences. At the same 
time, we celebrate her remarkable accomplishments and honor her memory 
by trying to live by her exemplary pioneering and socially responsible 
spirit.

                          ____________________