This memorial website was created in memory of Ruth Tunstall-Grant. Please share your stories, memories, pictures of her or her artwork. Let's cherish the times we had with her and know she will live on through her art.
A celebration of life, or "my party" as Ruth liked to call it, will be held on Sunday, September 3, 2017 at MACLA (http://maclaarte.org/) in San Jose from 4 pm to 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donating to the Ruth Tunstall Grant Archive to help preserve her legacy as an artist.
With love and sadness,
Sheehan, Indira and Luxmi
How about those Dubs huh? They are back in it and they won game 2 for ya yesterday. I still miss those days watching your good ol' pal from Saginaw "act a foo" as you would say. These June games just aren't the same without ya but I know you're still enjoying. I bet you're a JP fan, yeah?
Ms. Ruth - You're dearly missed and each year that goes by doesn't seem to get easier but I am certainly more grateful for the time we spent with you. Thanks for still taking time to listen when I call on your constant wisdom...
You're loved, you're missed, and you are in my heart forever.
Love you!
With Love and Light!!
Gin
I miss you ...love you ... and feel your spirit everyday! Rest in paradise !!
Luv-Gingy
ps- thank you, everyone that loves Ruth as much as I do. Take care!
Remembering you today (and always). I know you are looking down in anger at the state of our city today but always counting that your 'Ms. Ruth optimism' would also look at the events transgressing in our world today in a different light. At these crucial moments in our history, I am missing your guidance and life experience as an elder and wise spirit. I know that you have so much knowledge to guide our generation through this, so I will keep listening for your voice and follow my heart in making an impact in this world.
On this, the 3rd anniversary of your passing, I continue to miss the comfort and joy of our time together but continue to be fueled by your love and inspiration. Not a decision, challenge, momentous occasion goes by that I don't stop to share with you and send you my gratitude for the unconditional love you showed me and the wisdom you passed on.
I love you and miss you dearly... and today, of all, days long to sit and share, listen, and learn together.
I love you and miss you!
As we welcome 2020 and move forward with our lives, I want to take a moment to thank you for bringing Viry and me into your inner circle and embracing us as one of your own. Your patience and wisdom really helped guide our relationship as partners, our careers as community advocates, and my own life-decisions both as a person and a partner.
You would never accept the accolades or credit for your constant efforts, time, and support but you should know the following: Without your love and wisdom as an elder we would not have conquered the challenges placed before us so successfully. As my "unofficial" grandparent I want to reassure you that your thoughts, knowledge, and inspiration will always be carried in my heart, thoughts, and actions.
I love you and miss you!
They say there is a reason
They say that time will heal
But neither time nor reason
Will change the way we feel.
For no one knows the heartache
that lies behind our smiles,
No one knows how many times
we have broken down and cried
Still missing you
We want to tell you something
so there won’t be any doubt,
You’re so wonderful to think of
but so hard to be without.
We cannot bring the old days back,
when we were all together
The family chain is broken now,
but memories live forever.
Still missing you!!!
by Damieyon Dumas
Your Birthday is a day I treasure
though you’re no longer here –
It reminds me of such happy times
that in heart, I hold so dear.
Even though I feel so sad
that you have gone away –
I wouldn’t change anything
or trade one single day.
So thank you for the memories
that are with me forever –
I’ll treasure those always
’till we are back together.
(By Toni Kane)
I strongly feel your art should be in the next Bienalle in Venice next year.You represent us and the USA!!!! I will always love you. Thank you for being in my life!
I will never forget the deepest joy you brought into my life . Our usual get togethers with dinner & lasting a good 5+ hours, was always so much fun. Having you as such a close friend made my life so rich. Sharing our stories of celebration & trauma made us so close & understanding of each other & others. You claimed I was the Phoenix of your life & you gave me your Phoenix painting, which I will always cherish. You were the Shaman in the lives if Mike & I, and we purchased your painting of that for our 25th wedding anniversary, & will always find it inspiring. I will love you forever & you will always be in my heart.
Naturally, I went over to see what was up and she was complimenting him on the tattoos on his bald head!!! He was smiling this beautiful smile by then that just changed his whole aura!!
She really had a intuitive nature, she knew just the thing to do at any given time.
I met Ruthie through her art at Terry's many years ago, and bonded immediately. Years later she appeared on my doorstep with a large painting she wanted me to have. It is over my mantle to this day.
I miss our warm and companionable tea parties after she became housebound....her unfailing humor and interest in others, and all the good times when she was healthy. Life was better for me when you were here. Mona
I send my thoughts and prayers to Ruth's family who I know will miss her dearly, Dianne McKenna
We became fast friends. When we lived a few blocks from each other, we’d curl up on your couch watching The West Wing every week, wishing Jed Bartlett was really our President, and then rejoicing together when our prayers were answered, only better! For all the time we spent together teaching, working, scheming, I cherish most the time shared just the two of us—telling stories back and forth, unpacking the day, or saying nothing at all. I’m certain we all do.
You taught me not to fill my workday with meetings, to create breathing room, so that I would have time to reflect and process. You taught me the quiet subversion of finding a way to do what you know is right, because the naysayers will eventually come around. You taught me patience with people who make assumptions based on whatever prejudices life slipped into their lenses. You taught me how to navigate bureaucratic nonsense with equal parts compassion and zero tolerance. You taught me how to listen harder in the empty spaces, because therein lies the secret.
You had the clairvoyance, wisdom, and wit of someone who had seen it all and then some. You embraced us all with one hand for support, the other pointing to the stars. You were both incredibly human and superhuman. Your lessons live in my heart, my outlook, and my actions forever. How lucky we all are to have known you, and how deeply you are loved and missed.
Rest in peace, my colleague, my mentor, my friend. ❤️
You are my longest lasting friend here in San Jose, since 1978.
I will never forget your laugh: Luxurious, from the heart, the throat, and the belly. Laugh on, my darlin'. Love, and peace to your beautiful soul. Kisses, Evie
All my love and warm thoughts to her dear family, Sheehan and Indira and adored grand daughter, Luxmi.
Nancy Wiener
From Dan and Shinobu
I am Ruth's daughter-in-law, Indira's friend who have become friends with Ruth.
I pray for Ruth's crossing over in peace and in light.
A poem for Ruth while she is crossing over.
RUTH CROSSING OVER IN HER BLUE BOAT
Born black woman in the U.S. of W.
darker among your siblings
You are one of those black women “holding a broom against tsunami” of hardship, and still rises up
To dream. . .
Blue Boat
Blue Sky’
Blue Walls
Blue Space with occasional fire
You knew who you were and where from and to where you goin’
in your painting of China Impression
You are crossing over in your Blue Boat to the other side of our imagination.
As an unartistic person I was especially impressed by her artwork which I first came to know through Sheehan and Indira's home. I always thought it was so cool she painted one of those San Francisco hearts :). I remember an art show she hosted in Oakland a few years back where I was able to see some of her larger works first hand. I'll always be a fan.
I hang on tight to the memories of every opportunity I had to sit with you… every chance to learn more about you… every kick in the butt to learn more about myself… I will especially treasure my memory of the last time we sat together to watch a G.S. Warriors game on June 4th. You were so happy that our Warriors beat Lebron and it meant more than ever to be in your company that evening.... I will forever be grateful to Sheehan for making that possible. When I told you "I love you" and “Goodnight" that day… I wasn’t ready to say it forever... I really miss you, Ms. Ruth.
I miss your company, your guidance, your conversations, your tough love, and most of all - your amazing spirit. I count my blessings and fortune that you allowed Viry and me into your world at a time when we were just beginning our lives together. There is no way I can put into words the immense impact you've had on our journey from the moment you gave the ‘OK’ for us to become a part of the history of 755… Instantly we had a buddy, confidant, life-coach, grandma-figure, and everything else in between.
I’ll keep missing you and I’ll keep sharing with you… The cliché says that ‘you are in a better place’.... truth be told... YOU LEFT US IN A BETTER PLACE! I love you… miss you..
Leave a Tribute
How about those Dubs huh? They are back in it and they won game 2 for ya yesterday. I still miss those days watching your good ol' pal from Saginaw "act a foo" as you would say. These June games just aren't the same without ya but I know you're still enjoying. I bet you're a JP fan, yeah?
Ms. Ruth - You're dearly missed and each year that goes by doesn't seem to get easier but I am certainly more grateful for the time we spent with you. Thanks for still taking time to listen when I call on your constant wisdom...
You're loved, you're missed, and you are in my heart forever.
Love you!








I met Ruth when she and Sheehan's father were seeing each other in Davis, CA in the early 70's. Duncan Grant and I had been in the Peace Corps in Nepal together and we were working in a Peace Corps training program in Davis.
That began a close relationship between our two families. Sheehan was born not too long before my son, and they seemed to enjoy each other at various functions and when the two families got together. Ruth's family visited us in Sacramento and we visited them in Vacaville and San Jose.
My wife and I loved Ruth's enthusiasm for life, and often chuckled about the time we arrived in Vacaville - when Ruth forgot the screen door and ran directly through it to greet us with hugs.
Sometime after Ruth had been a member of the California Arts Council, I was surprised to see her sitting outside the building where I worked in Sacramento. She was there coaching a young artist about his presentation to the council, I assume seeking a grant. We talked a bit, and later as I re-entered my building Ruth was coming out. I recalled all the good times we had enjoyed together and gave her a big hug in the middle of a busy noon time lobby. As I looked back from the door I was entering, Ruth mouthed "I love you". That was the last memory I have of her and it is a precious one.
Although we wandered on different paths and had not seen Ruth for many years, my wife and I were both sad to hear of her passing - we had always hoped we would someday have time to regain our relationship. Life is fleeting. Don't miss the opportunities you have.