David Ruhe
David Ruhe | |
|---|---|
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| Born | January 3, 1914 Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| Died | September 6, 2005 Newburgh, New York |
| NSA member | United States 1959 - 1968 |
| UHJ member | 1968 - 1993 |
| Signature |  |
David S. Ruhe (January 3, 1914 - September 6, 2005) was a member of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, from 1968 to 1993. Outside of the Faith he was a medical doctor, an accomplished filmmaker, painter, and author.
Biography[edit]
After graduating from the Temple University School of Medicine in 1941, Dr. Ruhe began his medical career during World War II as a malaria researcher with the United States Public Health Service. In 1954, he was named the first professor of Medical Communications at the University of Kansas Medical School. Among the innovations he introduced at the university were the use of optical fibers for endoscopic cinematography, the projection of high-definition images in surgical theaters, and videotaping of psychiatric sessions for peer review. He made scores of medical films, winning the Golden Reel award, the Venice Film Festival award, and the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain award for his productions. In the course of his work in medical education, he was appointed director of the Medical Film Institute for the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Dr. Ruhe enthusiastically embraced the Bahá’í Faith in Philadelphia in 1941 and developed an extensive and profound knowledge of its writings and teachings. He served on numerous Local Spiritual Assemblies and national committees. Elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in 1959, he served as its secretary from 1963 until 1968 when he was elected to the Universal House of Justice, on which he served for five terms of five years each, until 1993.
A prolific writer, Dr. Ruhe authored many papers and two books on aspects of medicine and medical audiovisual communication. Gifted with a capacity to nurture dedication in others, Dr. Ruhe also contributed to the educational work of medical institutions in Haifa during his years at the World Centre.
While serving on the House of Justice, Dr. Ruhe developed a passionate interest in the history and archeology of the Holy Land and wrote Door of Hope, a detailed history of Bahá’í Holy places in Israel, published in 1983. Later, he authored Robe of Light, an historical account of Bahá’u’lláh's early years, published in 1994. During their vacations, he and his wife Margaret enjoyed visiting and supporting fledgling Bahá’í schools, universities, and radio stations around the world - from Thailand to Chile. Upon his 1993 retirement from the House of Justice, Dr. Ruhe and his wife returned to New York State, where he produced a series of documentary TV programs about the Bahá’í Faith.
The Universal House of Justice wrote that Dr. Ruhe's passing deprived the world community of a "steadfast, tireless, long standing servant." It praised his "humanitarian spiritual and strength of will" and called for memorial gatherings to be held everywhere, including commemorative services in his honor in all the Bahá’í Houses of Worship
Publications[edit]
- 1983 - Door of Hope
- 1994 - Robe of Light
Talks[edit]
- 1992 - Reading of the Message of the Universal House of Justice to the 1992 World Congress
- 1993 - Bahá'í Horizons in the 21st Century
References[edit]
- The Universal House of Justice. The Bahá’í World - An Internationl Record 2005-2006. Baha'i World Centre, Haifa: World Centre Publications. ISBN 978-0-85398-968-4.
