Ruth B. Wiemer

Ruth B. Wiemer of Chestertown, MD, died on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at Heron Point. She was 92. Born April 11, 1916, in Orange, NJ, she was the daughter of the late William Lawrence and May Chandler Brunyate. After graduating from Columbia High School in S. Orange, NJ, in 1934, she attended Hollins College in Roanoke, VA, where she received her A.B. degree in Psychology in 1938. After graduating from the Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy in 1940, she became an occupational therapist at the Seashore House in Atlantic City, NJ. From 1943-1961 she served as Director of Occupational Therapy at the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute in Reisterstown, MD, which became the Kennedy-Kreiger Institute of Johns Hopkins Hospital. In 1962, she accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at the Milwaukee Downer College in Milwaukee and later that same year was employed by the State of Maryland Department of Health as a Consultant in Occupational Therapy. In 1963, she entered the Master's program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, earning her Master's Degree in Education. In 1966, she became the Chief of the Division of Occupational Therapy for the Maryland Department of Health, retiring from this position in January 1980. Mrs. Weimer was well-recognized for her outstanding work in the field of Occupational Therapy. Among her many awards were the establishment of the Ruth W. Brunyate Lectureship by the Community College of Baltimore, a Presidential Commendation in 1979, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Towson University. She was a member of the National Health Council Board and from 1964-1967 served as President of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She was an active member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Easton, MD, and the P.E.O. Sisterhood. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ruth was an avid knitter, did beautiful needlepoint, and dabbled in watercolors. On March 21, 1970, Ruth married Christopher H. Wiemer, one of the founders of the United Cerebral Palsy Association and former Executive Director of the Kennedy-Kreiger Institute. They retired from Baltimore to Easton, MD, in 1979. Following the death of her husband in 1998, Ruth made her home at Heron Point in Chestertown, MD. While at Heron Point she served on the Heron Point Resident Council and was a Trustee on the PUMH Board of Maryland. Ruth is survived by a step-daughter, Mary Louise Wiemer of Baltimore. She was preceded in death by her brother, William Brunyate in 1997. Interment will be private at Oxford Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be held at Heron Point at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Heron Point Benevolent Fund, 501 E. Campus Ave., Chestertown, MD 21620. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam,Funeral Home, P.A. Easton, MD.

Ruth B. Wiemer

April 11, 1916 - October 14, 2008