Cheryl Ruth Selby Kielczewski, who was known as Ruth, was born on October 8, 1958, in Macon, Missouri. She attended high school in Atlanta, Missouri, and was valedictorian of its high school’s class of 1977.
She enrolled at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University). There she became a member of Alpha Sigma Tau and during her senior year, she was named Outstanding Greek Woman. She was also active in the Cardinal Key honor society and was Assistant Editor of the student newspaper. She graduated summa cum laude.
In the 1980s, she served as an Alpha Sigma Tau District President. On October 22, 1983, she wed Richard Z. Kielczewski. The couple had two sons.
Kielczewski worked as an advertising and marketing executive. The clients she served include Dell, AT&T, and Taco Bell. In her linkedin profile, she described herself thusly:
I’m a seasoned pro with an expansive knowledge base – high-tech advertising, direct marketing and bank/financial advertising – although I’ve also served clients in many business-to-business and consumer fields. I’m not afraid to tackle in-depth subject matter and have written for numerous media including collateral, print advertising, direct mail, newsletters, promotions, radio, and interactive mediums. I can present ideas, deliver sharp strategic insight and direct creative projects from start to finish.
She was also described by one of her former employees,
It’s simple and clear: Ruth is the best boss I’ve ever had. There are many possible reasons for this. Maybe it’s because she’s a fellow writer – a superb wordsmith, if you want to know the truth – and knows how writers think. Maybe it’s because she leads by example and always had my back. Maybe it’s because she has such clear vision and cuts to the strategic, targeted chase. Or maybe it’s all of the above and more. Ruth is an inspiration to me. She gets it. That intangible it. Not everybody does. I can say without reservation that her leadership, mentorship and teaching ability made me a better writer. She always challenged me to do more, and the work was always better for it. The best work of my career can be traced directly back to her. She knew when to push. She knew when to set me loose. And she did all of it in a way that made it feel like it was for my benefit. And it was, but only if it benefited the work as well. And that’s part of her genius. Nobody ever led me – or my team – with a surer hand. I have complete trust in Ruth as a creative director, and believe me, that is nothing anyone should ever take for granted. So to say that I recommend her is dangerously underplaying the reality of the situation: I can’t recommend her enough. You simply can’t do better talent wise, character wise or just plain wise. She made me better. She’ll make you and your company better, too.
Kielczewski died on March 13, 2018, after a six-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She was 59 years old.
