Ruth J. (“Dodie”) Nalven, 80, of Damariscotta, died July 16 at Coves Edge in Damariscotta. She was known affectionately by her friends and neighbors as “Dodie.”
She was born on April 21, 1927 in Ithaca, N.Y., the daughter of Anson and Ruth (Fox) Eastman. She attended John Harris High School in Harrisburg, Penn., where she received her diploma in 1945. She then attended the Crouse College of Art at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y., where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1949.
Ruth went on to begin her career in the New York City fashion industry, where she was a designer for Lily Dache, a notable hat designer at the time.
In 1952, she returned to Harrisburg and put her talents to work as the advertising manager for the Mary Sachs Shop. She married Maurice “Mal” Nalven in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 29, 1953.
She returned to New York City with Maurice for four years, where she again put her artistic talents to work for the fashion industry as a textile designer for Robert Gentile and as a shirt designer for H.B. Salenger. She and her husband then traveled for several months throughout Europe.
Upon their return to the United States, Ruth and Maurice settled in Forest Hills, N.Y. and then Washington Depot, Conn., where she became a founding trustee and curator of the American Indian Archaeological Institute. During this period Ruth began creating textile art and other crafts. She also became known for botanical research and incorporating flowers, seaweeds, leaves and other botanical items into her artwork.
Maurice and Ruth were divorced in 1977.
In 1989, Ruth decided to move to Maine, and made her home at the Day Block apartment building in-town Damariscotta. She began making miniature rugs using petit point needlework and was proud to become accepted into the International Guild of Miniature Artisans.
Ruth was well known and well liked in the Damariscotta community, where she was admired not only for her artistic talents and her quick political wit, but also for her courage and perseverance as she continued to make her own way despite a chronic respiratory illness. Ruth maintained her dignity and independence until she was recently hospitalized and then moved to Coves Edge for only a short period of time before she succumbed to the disease.
Ruth is predeceased by her husband, and sisters, Frances Newman and Helen Torchia.
She is survived by her sons, Glenn Nalven of Danvers, Mass., his wife Colleen and their daughter Alexandra, and Todd Nalven of Moscow, Russia and wife Svetlana.
Services for Ruth Nalven will be private.
In her final days she was unable to finish her last miniature rug for the Marysville (Kentucky) Historical Society. She requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the historical society, care of Mrs. Kay Browning, 77 Edgemont Rd., Marysville, KY 41056.
In anticipation of establishing a memorial website, messages are being accepted at Ruth.E.Nalven@gmail.com.