Ruth Friedel

Feb. 24, 1945 - July 22, 2023

Ruth Friedel z”l of Portland, Oregon passed peacefully away on July 22nd, 2023 surrounded by family. She was 78 years old. Dr. Friedel was born in New York to Frank and Bess Friedel. She graduated from Ithaca College where she earned a B.S. in Physical Therapy. She then obtained a master’s degree in Psychology from New York University. She worked and trained at Albert Einstein Hospital Complex in The Bronx for 10 years and studied dance in her spare time. She moved to Portland Oregon and continued graduate school at Pacific University, earning a doctorate in Psychology. She went on to teach at Pacific University and at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Friedel had a successful psychology and group therapy practice in Portland for over 30 years and founded the NorthWest Institute of Group Therapy and Psychodrama. Throughout her life she gave of herself generously to family, friends, and the community. Among her accomplishments she was proud to have volunteered for the Oregon Psychological Association, Jewish Federation of Oregon, Jewish Family and Child Service, and the Maimonides Medical Society. She embraced life and enjoyed dancing, singing, travelling, gardening, and being out in nature. She stated “I like to laugh, love to dance, like to play the classical guitar but am a novice and not very good at it.” Dr. Friedel is predeceased by her loving parents, Frank and Bess, and by her sister Sue Pereira. She is survived by her former husband, George Kaysen, and their daughter Debra Kaysen, her grandson Evan Wickstrom, and her former husband, K.R. Satyanarayan, and their daughter Meera Satyanarayan. She is also survived by her brothers William and David Friedel, her sister-in-law Judy Friedel, and her nieces and nephew Liz, Rachel, Gwenn and Gabriel. The family invites you to join them for a Celebration of Life. The service will be at the Ainsworth House & Gardens on August 6th, 2023 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Friends of Hopewell House or to the Portland Audubon Society.