Badger Sports Club won’t be the same without its founder and former centenarian Ruth Collins, who passed away on Oct. 9 in the place where she both worked and lived: her home on the grounds of the Sports Club on 119 Rockland Ave.
Collins—who celebrated her 100th birthday this July with hundreds of friends, family and camp attendees—founded the Sports Club with her husband in 1945.
Until her death, Collins continued to oversee the operations of the Swim Club, which runs an annual swim school and day camp for approximately 400 kids from Westchester and Rockland counties and NYC.
Collins was “the heart and soul” of Badger according to her son John, and, even in her last years, continued to give tours of the facilities and interact with the kids who came back year after year.
According to an obituary posted on the Fox Funeral Home website, Collins is survived by her son, John, and grandchildren John III, Brett, Wyatt, Jack and the late Keefe and McKenzie Anastasia.
A wake will be held at the Sports Club today until 7 p.m. The interment will be private.
