Since the inception of the Talking with Henrietta television
show, which started in 2002, I have interviewed hundreds of interesting and engaging people.
It is an honor for me
to be able to list former State Assembly member Ira Ruskin among them. It is
with sadness that I read over the July 4th weekend that Ruskin died on
July 3rd
from a brain tumor.
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| Photo courtesy of the Ruskin family Ira Ruskin |
I will remember the interview that I did with Ruskin and
Steve Poizner in 2004, when they were running against each other to be elected to the California State Assembly, representing the 21st Assembly District. It was a hard fought election that Ruskin won.
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| A photo taken in 2010 showing State Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, Henrietta J. Burroughs and Senator Joe Simitian on the Talking with Henrietta television show. |
In February 2010 – Ruskin was a guest along with former State Senator Joe Simitian for a
discussion of the challenges facing California’s public and higher education
systems.
The show was called, The Race to the Top - Why
Should We Try to Get There? A show excerpt can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mvW9BeWVqc.
Later in November
2010, Ruskin joined Paula Sandas, the former president and CEO of the Palo Alto
Chamber of Commerce and the then Vice Mayor of East Palo Alto, Carlos Romero, on
the show for a discussion of Election Results: What Do They Mean? – You can see
an excerpt from that show at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzTdG33xRUg.
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| State Assemblyman Ira Ruskin is shown in 2010 handing a piece of his birthday cake to East Palo Alto City Councilman Carlos Romero after their show discussion on Talking with Henrietta. |
We even had the chance, thanks to his press secretary,
Karen Zamel, to celebrate his 66th birthday right after our show discussion, since he had come to the taping on his birthday.
It was several months later in May 2011, as he was preparing
to run for the California State Senate that Ruskin announced that he had a
malignant brain tumor that could be contained, but not cured.
I last spoke with Ruskin during a chance encounter earlier
this year at the entrance to Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City. I was leaving the
hospital after a routine appointment. He was arriving for a doctor’s
appointment to continue the treatment he was receiving for his brain tumor. In
introducing me to his wife, Cheryl, he was as gracious off the set as he was on
the set.
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| Resolution from the California Legislature for the East Palo Alto Center for Community Media |
It is, indeed, a memorable experience to have had the opportunity, since his 2004 election, to talk with Ruskin about his
work in the California State Legislature, about the issues affecting California
and the nation and to share this information with my show’s viewers.
Ruskin has already been described as a well-respected legislator in the accolades now being made following his death. I would also add that,
during my encounters with him, I found him to be conscientious, genuinely
concerned about those around him and prepared to give his best to the
constituents he served.
I am fortunate, as a journalist, to have on-going
opportunities to discuss the issues of the day with local and national
leaders. I will sincerely miss, as will many others, having the opportunity
to talk with Ira Ruskin, again.
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See Ruskin family announcements regarding his funeral service on July 9th at https://sites.google.com/site/iraruskinrwc/
See Ruskin family announcements regarding his funeral service on July 9th at https://sites.google.com/site/iraruskinrwc/
