© Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2015
BPC Resident, Head of Battery Park Seniors
Favorite Battery Park City Spot: Esplanade
A native of Southern California, Ruth Ohman first came to New York City to attend Barnard College where she majored in English. Her decision to study in New York was influenced by her father who had attended Columbia University. Throughout her years studying in the City, Ruth developed a strong sense of appreciation for New York and decided to extend her stay following graduation. She began working as an editor of a medical magazine and moved to Battery Park City in 1983, after living in Greenwich Village for a period of time. While the move to Battery Park City was intended to be temporary, she quickly fell in love with the neighborhood and became an active member of the newly established community. Today, Ruth leads the Battery Park City Seniors group which has over 100 members.
The BPC Seniors program includes exercise classes, walking groups, museum visits, and art history lectures. One of Ruth’s main responsibilities is to make seniors aware of the wide variety of programs available within the community. These include Battery Park City Parks programs, computer e-book assistance, senior swim at the Downtown Community Center and more. Audrey Harkins, a resident of Gateway Plaza, has been working closely with Ruth in this effort. One of the most exciting times for the seniors is the annual flea market they hold at the BPC Block Party. According to Ruth, it is a chance for the seniors to “make a little money and have a lot of fun.” Items such as jewelry, books and videos are sold, all at reasonable prices.
Ruth Ohman has always had a passion for helping others and the community. She was appointed to Community Board 1 in 2007, becoming a public member in 2014. She respects the members of the Community Board and loves working alongside of them. During her free time, she enjoys volunteering at the Mercy Center in the Bronx where she teaches English as a second language to native Spanish speakers. In addition to volunteering, she enjoys traveling the world. Although she’s been to Thailand, Japan and Sweden, to name a few, she says Battery Park City will always be her favorite destination.
If you would like more information on the BPC Seniors program, please visit:
https://sites.google.com/site/batteryparkcityseniors/free-neighorhood-programs
Back to Blog Homepage
