In Memorium
Remembering Ruth Antonofsky honors the life, legacy, and artistic contributions of a beloved collaborator of Danisarte. This tribute celebrates Ruth’s impact as a mother, grandmother, dancer, actress, and writer. Through photos, memories, and performances, we remember her passion, creativity, and enduring influence on the Danisarte community.
RUTH ANTONOFSKY
Beloved Mother and bright shining star has gone to Heaven: October 27, 2012
Always in our Hearts
Mother, Grandmother, Dancer, Actress, and Writer
Born on the Lower Eastside, New York City to Louis and Fanny Antonofsky from Kiev and Galicia, Ruth had three brothers: Max, Nate, and Morris. She began her carer as a ballet dancer when she moved with her husband Bernard Kaplan to Caracas, Venezuela. There she found herself dancing both male and female roles, because of the lack back then, of trained classical male dancers. She performed and choreographed at the Caracas Theater Club as well as for Maria Luisa Escobar at the Teatro Municipal and on Channel Five. She danced with Nina Novak's Ballet Company and el Ballet Nacional de Venezuela. Ruth also had her own ballet school. Ruth created the trio "The Antonettes", with her daughters Betty and Alicia Kaplan and performed on all the popular variety television programs of the time and toured Venezuela. She retured to New York and studied with Sonia Moore and performed in many off and off-off Broadway plays, distinguishing herself in a superb performance as Madam Grusinskaya in Grand Hotel. Her second husband
was David Dardick, inventor of the Tround open chamber system, whom she met at the funeral of her second cousin, Bernard Herrmann, who composed the film scores for many of Alfred Hitchcock's films, as well as Citizen Kane. Ruth was also a familiar face in many films, soaps, and print ads. She co-starred with Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Connelly in BettyKaplan's film Of Love and Shadows, based on Isabel Allende's novel. An avid supporter of the arts, she was the main patron of Danisarte, her daughter Alicia's not-for-profit 20-year-old theatrical organization located in East Harlem. She was the Ms. Golden Girl of 1982. Ms. Antonofsky wrote poetry and Nuts and Bolts, a children's book. She is survived by her children, Betty, Alicia, and Roger Kaplan, her grandchildren, Daniel Louis Rivas and Sara Rivas, many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as many dear friends and admirers.
Remembering my Mama Ruth Antonofsky is a tribute to Alicia Kaplan's mother, via a heartfelt short film and a recorded conversation between Alicia and Ruth. Video by Sara Rivas.
"Mum's the Word"a film by Betty Kaplan: Teaser
Mum's the Word: Behind the scenes by Sara Rivas
Ruth Antonofsky in photos
