Ricki O’Meara, St. Louis Woman of Achievement

Claire “Ricki” O’Meara, 93, died on February 13, 2015, surrounded by her family. Ricki (neé Claire Ann Richter) was born on February 12, 1922, in Boonton NJ. She was a 1943 graduate of Wellesley College, where she met then-MIT-student John O’Meara. Ricki and John were married on May 10, 1944, when John was on leave from the Army. After the war they moved to Pittsburgh, then to St. Louis is 1948. Ricki believed deeply in service to others and lived her beliefs through service to family, church, school, and community. She was President of the St. Louis Priory School Mothers’ Club where she began the annual Xanadu Auction in 1969. Ricki was the President of the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis, and went on to serve as a director on the National Board of the Girl Scouts of America for four years. She was one of the earliest coordinators of the St. Luke’s Hospital Hospice program. In recognition of her many accomplishments Ricki was named the1980 St. Louis Globe Democrat Woman of Achievement. Until her recent hospitalization she volunteered twice a week at the Kirkwood Public Library. She was an active member of the Wednesday Club of St. Louis, and an avid symphony, opera, and theater supporter, and she loved hiking, birdwatching, bridge, and traveling. Ricki was preceded in death by her dearest John in 1990 after 45 years of marriage. She is survived by her four children and their spouses: John and Mary Anne O’Meara, Barney and Mary O’Meara, Kevin and Peg O’Meara, and Claire and Bob Ruhl. Her eight grandchildren and their spouses are: Patrick and Wendy O’Meara, Caroline O’Meara and Matt Traub, Isabel O’Meara and Dan Price, Timothy O’Meara and Rebecca Kolsky, Dan O’Meara and Kim Williams, Julie and Brian Notario, Annie Ruhl, and Zoe Ruhl. Her great grandchildren are: Elijah Prudhomme O’Meara, Isaac O’Meara Traub, William Karl Price, Wilhelmina and Zephyr O’Meara Kolsky, and Chase, Michela, and Colin Notario. A celebration of Ricki’s life will be held at a later date. Her ashes will be interred beside John’s. In lieu of flowers please send memorial contributions either to the Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library, 140 East Jefferson Ave, Kirkwood MO 63122, or to Wellesley College, Attn: O’Meara Family Internship, c/o Development Services, 109 Central Street, Wellesley MA 02481