Obituary of Ruth Phyliss G. Olenick

Ruthie (Ruth Phyliss G) Olenick, neé Goldstein, passed away peacefully at her home in Thousand Oaks, CA on April 5, 2016. Ruthie is survived by her son and daughter: Dr. Jeffrey Scott Olenick and Susan Kim Ehrlich, as well as Jeff’s wife, Amy Shapiro, and grandson, Louis Olenick; and Susie’s husband, Michael Ehrlich and grandchildren by marriage, Matthew Ehrlich and Katrina Ehrlich. Ruthie was born in Chicago to Dr. Phillip Goldstein and Dorothy Stein. Ruthie and Earl, married for 56 years, lived and raised their family in Chicago and Milwaukee and later retired in Scottsdale. Throughout their lives together the couple shared a deep and consuming passion for art. Ruthie had an illustrious career as an oil painter showing in over 30 major art exhibitions. Her gorgeous, sunny impressionist paintings captivated audiences for 60 years and are owned by collectors throughout the world. Her paintings have been featured in movies, graced the covers of corporate gift boxes and been published and sold in many formats. She loved beauty -- in all its forms -- and her greatest pleasure was to share it with the world. She was in fact, herself, a great beauty in her youth and throughout her life. She was a style icon until the very end. Ruthie loved to entertain and was a wonderful cook and baker; her brisket and marble pound cake, among so many things, will stand out in the minds of her adoring family. Ruthie will always be remembered with tenderness and love by her family and friends, who all knew her as a sweet, beautiful and talented lady who never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was our mother. She was everyone’s mother. Ruthie Goldstein Olenick lives forever in our hearts. A private gathering will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, please donate to http://www.safeanimalrescue.com in memory of her love of animals.