Anne Knight Ruff‘s charming and colorful interpretation of the 1890 view of Bank Avenue serves as a cheery welcome to our Local Artists page.
A January 1983 Burlington County Times article explains how she crafted a “Society of Friends” from reclaimed cast iron bathtub claw feet and gave them as presents.
Indeed, the medium of choice for her artistic expression was often local clay, found objects, and recycled materials such as salvaged wood, and second-hand furniture.
Known to her friends as “Bay” Ruff, at age 81, she authored a book of stories about growing up in Riverton that grew out of the weekly gatherings of the Friday Ladies, a group she was invited to join.
Her 256-page paperbound book captures bygone days of Riverton, her home for over 80 years. One need not be from Riverton in order to be amused and entertained by this collection of brief essays organized by stages in her life.
Told against the backdrop of life in our unique borough, her insightful musings on friends, acquaintances, relatives, and a lifelong love of swimming, made as she dealt with hearing impairment and household upkeep both informs the mind and touches the spirit.
Read more details about Anne Knight Ruff’s life and how the book came to be in this 2002 New York Times interview by Jill P. Capuzzo: “IN PERSON; A Born Storyteller, She Took Her Time”
William Probsting wrote a marvelous profile of Anne Knight Ruffthat appeared in the 2002 Riverton July Fourth Program when the town honored her as the Parade Marshal.
When she passed in 2013, many attended her Memorial Service at Westfield Friends Meeting. Friends and family who have been the recipients of many of Ms. Ruff’s works of art over the years brought them to display during the service.
