Ruth Inzinna Obituary

Ruth Inzinna of Rochester, passed away peacefully, on January 30, 2026, at the age of 85. She lived a life of kindness and compassion and was loved by the many hearts she touched.

Ruth is survived by her son John, and granddaughters Jade and Jordan. She was beloved "Auntie Ruth" to her nephew John Pyper, her neice Jenniffer Baker, their families, and to the extensive extended family she formed through friendship. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, John and Caroline Pyper, brothers John Pyper Jr. and Charles Pyper, and sister Elizabeth Edwards.

Born in Holyoke Massachusetts, and graduating from the University of Massachusetts, she moved to Nicaragua, teaching at the American-Nicaraguan School for several years. She later returned to the US and started teaching at SUNY Geneseo, where she met Charlie Inzinna, whom she would marry and raise a son, John. She returned to college to get her Master's Degree from SUNY Brockport and received her teaching certification. She worked for the Ibero-American Action League, and later taught for many years at schools 28 and 12 of the Rochester City School District. She specialized in teaching English to non-native speakers, and later in teaching how to teach English as a second language. She moved to California for a year of specialized certification training in Reading Recovery. She taught for many years and later volunteered her time to tutor students needing assistance learning English.

Ruth loved language. She could speak in several, was an avid reader, valued education, and dedicated herself to improving the life opportunities of others through literacy. She was a strong and independent woman always ready for a travelling adventure. She volunteered summers in Romania, Poland, and Czechoslovakia as part of an American outreach to teach English. She vacationed in Alaska, Norway, and France. She loved summer vacations on the beach in Maine.

In celebration of Ruth's life, Calling Hours will take place from 1:00 – 4:00 PM on March 14, 2026, at the Miller Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc. 3325 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY 14623.