Ida G. Ruben

Ida G. Ruben
Ruben in 2018
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 20th district
In office
January 14, 1987 – January 10, 2007
Preceded byStewart W. Bainum Jr.
Succeeded byJamie Raskin
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 20th district
In office
January 8, 1975 – January 14, 1987
Preceded byLeonard Ruben
Succeeded byPeter Franchot
Personal details
Born(1929-01-07)January 7, 1929
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedNovember 1, 2024(2024-11-01) (aged 95)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Ida Gass Ruben (born Ida Fanny Gass; January 7, 1929 – November 1, 2024) was an American politician who served in the Maryland House of Delegates from the 20th district from 1975 to 1987 and in the Maryland Senate from the 20th district from 1987 to 2007.[1][2]

Ida Fanny Gass was born in Washington on January 7, 1929, and married Leonard Ruben (died 2007) in 1948.[3] They had four sons.[3]

Ruben was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1974, filling a seat that had been vacated by her husband, who was appointed to a judgeship.[3][4] She became a state senator in 1987 and served in the chamber for 20 years, rising to the position of president pro tem before losing her seat to Jamie Raskin in the 2006 election.[2] During her time in office, she helped pass laws to protect victims of domestic violence, and to enforce child support payments.[3]

Ruben died in Bethesda, Maryland, on November 1, 2024, at the age of 95.[5] Following this, Governor Wes Moore ordered state flags to fly at half-staff in Ruben's honor.[6]

  1. ^ "Former Senator Ida G. Ruben". Mgaleg.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  2. ^ a b "After 32 Years, a Hiatus, Not a Halt". The Washington Post. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  3. ^ a b c d Barnes, Bart (November 4, 2024). "Ida G. Ruben, tenacious Maryland legislator, dies at 95". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Shaver, Katherine (March 22, 2007). "Judge L. Leonard Ruben Dies After Collapsing at Courthouse". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 4, 2024). "Ida Ruben, 'relentless champion for Montgomery County' in Annapolis, dies at 95". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Pusatory, Matt (November 5, 2024). "Why are Maryland flags at half staff on Election Day?". WUSA-TV. Retrieved November 5, 2024.