SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Ruth Johnson Colvin, the visionary founder of Literacy Volunteers of America and a proud inductee of the National Women’s Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 107.
Colvin died in Syracuse, New York, with ProLiteracy, the organization formed from the merger of Literacy Volunteers and Laubach Literacy in 2002, confirming the news. She remained an active member on the organization’s board of directors until her final days.
“Ruth fundamentally shaped the existence of ProLiteracy through her founding of Literacy Volunteers of America. She deeply understood that literacy is a fundamental right,” an online tribute remarked. “Her guidance and wisdom have fueled our mission to enhance adult literacy.”
A passionate advocate against illiteracy, Colvin initiated the Literacy Volunteers project in 1962, motivated by the alarming census data from 1960 indicating that 11,000 residents in her Syracuse community were illiterate.
“In the 1950s, America was largely oblivious to its own illiteracy problem. We mistakenly believed it was an issue limited to other countries,” she reflected prior to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2006.
Starting from humble beginnings in her basement, Colvin’s organization flourished across the nation and internationally, equipping volunteers with effective techniques for teaching literacy. Colvin’s commitment took her and her husband, Bob, to numerous countries around the globe. The couple shared 73 years of marriage until Bob’s passing in 2014.
Colvin earned her place in the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and was honored with the President’s National Volunteer Action Award by Ronald Reagan in 1987. She authored several books, including her memoir, “My Travels Through Life, Love and Literacy,” released in 2020 at the age of 103.
“Sometimes you must venture away from comfort into trust and passion,” she expressed.
Colvin kept a treasure trove of letters from tutors, students, and supporters throughout her years, representing her impactful legacy.
These letters, as noted in the tribute, “embodied her life’s work, serving as proof that anyone has the potential to change the lives of others for the better.”
