Ruth Hayward
Encyclopedia
Ruth Hayward is an engineer, sculptor, and philanthropist. A lifelong resident of San Diego, in 1987 she was honored with a Tribute to Women & Industry (TWIN) award by the YWCA for her work as an engineer at General Dynamics/Electronics and as a volunteer at Rachel's Women's Center for the homeless.
at a time when very few women entered the field. During her 38 years at General Dynamics
she was involved in a project that located radio emitters to aid in pinpointing enemy locations. The high point of her career involved work on underground detection of explosives, work that probably saved hundreds of lives.
Hayward began sculpting, studying with T.J. Dixon. She proved to be a very skillful artist specializing in the human form. Her work is both compelling and carefully accurate reflecting her engineering skills and her love of photography and the human form. Four of her life sized bronze works are in San Diego's world famous Balboa Park
. The pieces celebrate influential San Diegans. Her full size sculptures of George Marston
1946), known as San Diego's first citizen, Ephraim Weed Morse (1823–1906) and Alonzo Erastus Horton (1813–1909), "Father of San Diego", make up "Founders' Plaza" in the park. Separate from these men is Hayward's beloved sculpture of botanist, horticulturist and landscape architect Kate Sessions
known as the "Mother of San Diego". Other publicly displayed works include the bust of Ellen Browning-Scripps at Scripps Green Hospital, the bust of Lily Tomlin
at Rachel's Women's Center in downtown San Diego and a bust of Margaret Sellers at the U.S. Postal Service's Margaret L. Sellers Processing and Distribution Center, Rancho Carmel Road, San Diego. Privately held works include a bas-relief of Karen Keltner, San Diego Opera's resident conductor, and a life-size sculpture of physician Barbara Levy of Seattle.
An avid photographer, Hayward's fine wildlife and nature photographs by Hayward are used by various San Diego organizations such as the San Diego River Conservancy, She has traveled to all seven continents and takes pictures where ever she goes.
Ruth Hayward was honored on September 15, 2011, by the La Jolla Historical Society for her work as an artist and to thank her for the donation of her bust of Ellen Browning Scripps. http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/09/21/la-jolla-historical-society-says-thank-you-to-sculptor-ruth-hayward/.
and the San Diego Opera
.
Engineer
Always fascinated by how things work, Hayward became an engineer in the 1960s while working for General DynamicsGeneral Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
at a time when very few women entered the field. During her 38 years at General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
she was involved in a project that located radio emitters to aid in pinpointing enemy locations. The high point of her career involved work on underground detection of explosives, work that probably saved hundreds of lives.
Artist
After retiring from General DynamicsGeneral Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Hayward began sculpting, studying with T.J. Dixon. She proved to be a very skillful artist specializing in the human form. Her work is both compelling and carefully accurate reflecting her engineering skills and her love of photography and the human form. Four of her life sized bronze works are in San Diego's world famous Balboa Park
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is the name of several municipal parks or neighborhoods, including the following:* Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States* Balboa Park, San Francisco, California, United States...
. The pieces celebrate influential San Diegans. Her full size sculptures of George Marston
George Marston
George White Marston was an American politician, department store owner, and philanthropist. Marston was involved with establishing Balboa Park, the San Diego Public Library System, and the Serra Museum...
1946), known as San Diego's first citizen, Ephraim Weed Morse (1823–1906) and Alonzo Erastus Horton (1813–1909), "Father of San Diego", make up "Founders' Plaza" in the park. Separate from these men is Hayward's beloved sculpture of botanist, horticulturist and landscape architect Kate Sessions
Kate Sessions
Katherine Olivia "Kate" Sessions was an American botanist, horticulturalist, and landscape architect closely associated with San Diego, California, and known as the "Mother of Balboa Park."-Early life:...
known as the "Mother of San Diego". Other publicly displayed works include the bust of Ellen Browning-Scripps at Scripps Green Hospital, the bust of Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin
Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedienne, writer, and producer. Tomlin has been a major force in American comedy since the late 1960's when she began a career as a stand up comedian and became a featured performer on television's Laugh-in...
at Rachel's Women's Center in downtown San Diego and a bust of Margaret Sellers at the U.S. Postal Service's Margaret L. Sellers Processing and Distribution Center, Rancho Carmel Road, San Diego. Privately held works include a bas-relief of Karen Keltner, San Diego Opera's resident conductor, and a life-size sculpture of physician Barbara Levy of Seattle.
An avid photographer, Hayward's fine wildlife and nature photographs by Hayward are used by various San Diego organizations such as the San Diego River Conservancy, She has traveled to all seven continents and takes pictures where ever she goes.
Ruth Hayward was honored on September 15, 2011, by the La Jolla Historical Society for her work as an artist and to thank her for the donation of her bust of Ellen Browning Scripps. http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/09/21/la-jolla-historical-society-says-thank-you-to-sculptor-ruth-hayward/.
Philanthropist
Consistently generous with her many friends, Hayward supports a large number of San Diego charities with service and gifts. She served on the founding board of the women's homeless shelter, Rachael's Women's Center and continued on that board for twenty years. She is the past President of Project Wildlife a San Diego rehabilitation group taking care of injured mammals and birds. She further promotes the public good by supporting countless other organizations such as City Beautiful of San Diego, the San Diego River Park FoundationSan Diego River Park Foundation
The San Diego River Park Foundation is a 501 public benefit corporation that aims to create a continuous green-belt along the 52 mile long San Diego River.-Mission statement:...
and the San Diego Opera
San Diego Opera
The San Diego Opera Association is a professional opera company located in the city of San Diego, California and is a member of OPERA America. It was founded in 1950 to present productions by San Francisco Opera in the San Diego area...
.