Isabelle Ruth ReichAge: 94 • BurlingtonIsabelle Ruth Reich, age 94, passed away on Sunday November 27, 2016 at Starr Farm Nursing Home in Burlington, Vermont surrounded by her family, after a short illness and a long extraordinary life."Ruth" as she preferred to be called, was born on August 17, 1922 to Jesse Martland Blaney and Isabella M. Blaney, (Isabelle M. James) of Verona, New Jersey. The family later moved to Stamford, Connecticut where Ruth graduated from Stamford High School in 1940. Ruth was predeceased by her two brothers, William R. Blaney and Richard M. Blaney of Long Island, NY. She was also predeceased by her first husband Theodore George Reich in 1964 and predeceased in 2000 by her partner of 35 years, James Herbert Anderson of Sayville, NY. She was also predeceased by many, many dear old friends and beloved pets with whom she is now reunited in the Lord's eternal light. Ruth is survived by her daughter Valerie Jane Reich (Valerie Hunt) and her spouse, Ed Welch, her granddaughters, Abigail Isabella Hunt and Jessie Virginia Hunt of Shelburne, Vermont. Ruth is also survived by her many cousins of Long Island, NY and their families. She was especially fond of her cousin Robert Blaney of Wantagh, NY. and cousin Ken Blaney (predeceased) of California. Ruth Reich was a very beautiful woman, a "Renaissance Woman", extremely bright, an accomplished artist, very well read and extremely skilled. She was a pioneer in the field of Art Conservation, long before there were graduate training programs in the profession. The daughter of a Brown University trained chemist (Jesse M. Blaney), who developed first color photography in America, Ruth was no stranger to science, experimentation, chemicals, dogged research and perseverance for answers. Early on, Ruth became passionate about art and antiques, their preservation and developed a specialty in restoration of fine ceramics and porcelain. In the 1940's and 1950's, long before quick access to information with computers and the internet, Ruth would travel to New York city libraries to research, pigments, materials, resins and adhesives which could be suitable for her restoration work. Her favorite haunt was Greenwich Village in New York City where she could purchase the finest artist's pigments, gold leaf, resins and other mediums in artist's shops. In search of the best materials, she often contacted companies for information such as Eastman Kodak as they were were developing the earliest non-yellowing epoxies. She frequented dentist offices for advice on making molds and casting missing pieces with high grade materials. Ruth Reich strove for perfection in all her work and became widely regarded for Fine Porcelain and Ceramics Restoration working for top museums, collectors and dealers in New York City and Long Island for over four decades. Ruth became extremely knowledgeable about antiques and fine art which led to the establishment of Past Times Antiques in 1965 with her partner and friend James Herbert Anderson. They operated antiques shops in Bayshore and East Islip on Long Island until 1983 and then moved their antiques business to Fly Creek, near Cooperstown, New York until 2001. They participated in many fine antiques shows while on Long Island, their favorite being the the prestigious Winter Antiques Show held at the Park Avenue Armory, New York City. Many happy times were spent with fellow antiques dealers and devoted clients over their 35 years in the antiques business. Ruth was also actively involved with the William K. Vanderbilt Historical Society and also worked as a curator at the Islip Town Museum located at the Jacob Ockers House in Oakdale, NY during the 1970's and early 1980's. She very much enjoyed developing public exhibitions and researching the rich history and artifacts of the area. Ruth was also an avid "rock hound' and spent many happy trips prospecting for precious minerals and rocks throughout the west during her 20's and 30's, it was her favorite place on earth. Ruth collected rocks from almost every state in the USA and learned how to cut and polish stone to make beautiful cabochons for jewelry. She deeply appreciated Native American culture and art, collecting many pieces over her lifetime. Ruth was fortunate to be able to travel to Cuba in the early 1950's and enjoyed the culture, music and art of Havanna. She also enjoyed the Adirondack Mountains and owned rustic cabins there with James Anderson during the 1970's, enjoying many happy summer vacations in the cool pine forests near East Canada Creek and antiquing the countryside for treasures. She decorated the cabins with Stickley furniture, decorative rugs, made lamp shades and painted them with Native American designs. Her rustic cabins were like miniature "Great Camps", a place to read and relax and enjoy nature. Ruth was incredibly kind and always helped everyone she could, sometimes helping friends with care in her own home after their surgeries. She rescued scores of cats and dogs on Long Island, once rescuing a blind Pekinese from a high kill shelter and adopting it. Ruth would work hard to reunite lost pets with their owners and if unsuccessful, the animal had a forever home with her. She was a devoted and loving, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. Ruth was a great personality, a fabulous home decorator, a remarkable seamstress, a wonderful cook. She enjoyed humor, loved all English comedies, all types of music and song.Ruth lived a long and rich life. In 2001 she moved from Cooperstown, New York to Shelburne, Vermont to be near her daughter and grandchildren. She resided at The Terraces in Shelburne for almost 7 years, then moved to Sterling House in Richmond, Vermont. In 2009 she enjoyed a great trip out west to Arizona and New Mexico, visiting the Grand Canyon, Bandelier National Park, Taos and Sante Fe with her daughter and grandchildren. It was the trip of a lifetime and she relished the familiar scenery, adobe architecture and Native American dance and art. Ruth enjoyed many other trips over the last 15 years with her family to Florida and Martha's Vineyard. Ruth was very fortunate to see, her daughter Valerie, follow in her professional footsteps of art conservation as she attended Vassar College for Art History, the Cooperstown Graduate Program for graduate work in Art Conservation, then work for the Smithsonian Institution, the Shelburne Museum and the Stony Brook Museum over the last 20 years. Ruth was also very proud to see her beautiful granddaughters, Abigail Isabella Hunt and Jessie Virginia Hunt attend excellent colleges and pursue their chosen fields of study. She was pleased that granddaughter Jessie attended Lancaster University in England for a semester abroad, in Lancashire County, the very birth place of Ruth's maternal ancestors, the James and Peel family. Ruth's family would like to thank those who cared for her with compassion on Mansfield Unit at Starr Farm Nursing Home during the last year. Ruth enjoyed the kindness of many and loved to sing and laugh with those around her. She always had nice things to say to people.A memorial service will be held in December for friends and family to celebrate Ruth's incredible life, her kindness and her beautiful soul. "Eternal rest, grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."Rest in Peace Beautiful Ruth. You are in our hearts forever.Visit burlingtonfreepress.com/obituaries to Express condolences and sign the guest book.