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Saturday, September 6, 2008

Doris Lee Rutchik 'Dubby' Bergman: Volunteer, advocate was known for helping start charities

Doris Lee Rutchik "Dubby" Bergman was the humble champion of the underdog. She was an advocate, volunteer and supporter for several community, arts and charitable organizations, especially those that aided the homeless or hungry.

Ms. Bergman, 82, died Tuesday of complications of cancer at the Veranda Preston Hollow in Dallas.

Services were Thursday at Temple Emanu-El, where she was an active member. She was buried at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Ms. Bergman was known for helping start charitable groups, which she then supported with her time and financial support, said Jan Pruitt, president and chief executive officer of the North Texas Food Bank.

Ms. Bergman had supported the North Texas Food Bank since its 1982 beginning. At the food bank, she was instrumental in starting the Hunger Link program in 1984. The service collects donations from 50 area hotels, restaurants and other food service outlets for distribution to feed the hungry at soup kitchens and shelters. Hunger Link will soon be expanded to collect food from grocery stores.

"Hunger Link has turned into something even bigger than was imagined by the founders," Ms. Pruitt said. "She's really known for the things that she's birthed, the good ideas and good efforts. We'll probably never know all of the things that Doris helped get started in our community."

Cynthia Zidell of Dallas said her mother was also an original board member of the Dallas Jewish Coalition, where she worked with her good friends, Thelma Vogel and Doris Budner, on the original discussions of what became the Vogel Alcove, a center for the care of children of the homeless.

As she was slowed by the progression of her cancer, Ms. Bergman had had time to talk to her daughter about her community efforts. She insisted on maintaining her modesty.

"She was always telling me, 'Don't ever put that I was the founder of something. You can say I co-founded it,' " Ms. Zidell said.

Ms. Bergman was active with the National Council of Jewish Women, the Dallas Jewish Historical Society and was an original board member of Jewish Coalition for the Homeless. She also volunteered for the Dallas Museum of Art and the Dallas Public Library.

She was born in Dallas, where she graduated from Forest Avenue High School, now James Madison High School.

She attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Southern Methodist University, where she was a member of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology.

Ms. Bergman married Herman Bergman in 1952. They divorced in the mid-1980s.

Ms. Bergman's employment career included working with former Southern Methodist University Law School dean Robert Story, West End developer Robert Bagwell and art gallery owner Edith Baker.

"Family meant the world to her," her daughter said.

Ms. Bergman is also survived by sons, Gary Bergman and Andy Bergman, both of Dallas; a brother, Morris Rutchik of Dallas; and seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Temple Emanu-El, the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, the Veranda Preston Hollow or a charity of choice.

 

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By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
jsimnacher@dallasnews.com