College mourns student whose smile ‘could light up a room’
Ruth George—she liked to be called “Ruthie”—was an exceptional and engaged student who stood out, even in a full lecture hall.
“It was apparent that she was here to learn, and that she thoroughly enjoyed learning,” said Tracy Baynard, associate professor of kinesiology and nutrition, who taught the AHS sophomore in her fall semester course, Introduction to Exercise Science and Health.
“Ruthie not only possessed book smarts, but she was a genuine person,” Baynard said. With 200 students in the course, “she was one I could look at in class to determine if my lecture was making sense or not, and she always provided a laugh or a smirk at my goofy jokes.”
George, 19, a Berwyn resident, was found dead Nov. 23 in her car in the Halsted Street parking garage on campus. A Chicago man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder Nov. 25.