Pulliam Ruby, a fighter through life, claimed by cancer

Thursday, June 28, 2001 | 8:59 a.m.

Rena Pulliam Ruby faced life's challenges with a strong determination to succeed, especially when the odds against her seemed too great.

As a teenager, she won a spot on the 17-member Las Vegas High School Rhythmettes drill team that gained national acclaim and performed on the Ed Sullivan television show in 1953.

As a young woman, she bucked the odds by not only becoming one of the few female coaches of a men's softball team, but also by taking that squad to a runner-up title at the 1982 Western Regionals.

As public relations director of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center later at its sister facility, MountainView Hospital, Ruby was so in control of her department that on her death bed this week she gave instructions that would make for a smooth transition of duties by her subordinates.

Rena Pulliam Ruby, who for a year battled ovarian cancer, died Tuesday at Nathan Adelson Hospice West. She was 66.

Services for the native Las Vegan will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, Lone Mountain Road and Jones Boulevard.

Despite all of her accomplishments, Ruby's main goals in life were quite simple.

"She said all she ever wanted to do was raise four good children and be of help to others without expecting anything in return," said sister-in-law Donna Andress. "She was very unselfish."

Longtime Las Vegas businessman and friend Herb Tobman said: "When people went to Sunrise Hospital, they looked for Rena, not a doctor. She was always there willing to help.

Mark Howard, CEO of MountainView, said: "Rena was instrumental in recruiting all of the physicians at the MountainView medical office building and did an excellent job."

Allan Stipe, CEO of Sunrise, echoed: "Rena was loyal and compassionate. I was proud to have been her co-worker and, more important, I was proud to be her friend."

Born Rena Pullium on Oct. 15, 1934, she was raised by her grandparents, pioneer Chrysler-Plymouth dealer and North Las Vegas Mayor Clyde "C.C." McDaniel and his wife, Mollie, after Rena's mother died when Rena was 6.

While at Las Vegas High, Rena won a spot on the Rhythmettes, which from 1950 to 1966 was a Las Vegas entertainment mainstay.

In 1953 the precision drill squad not only appeared on Sullivan's variety show but also appeared on NBC's "Sports Spectacular" and was named the best national youth dance group at a competition at the Hollywood Bowl that was judged by, among others, actress Joan Crawford.

Also in 1953, the year she graduated from LVHS, Rena was a welcoming host at the Wildcat Lair youth club downtown and was the worthy advisor of the Rainbows, the organization's highest post.

Rena married Air Force Capt. Norman Ruby and the two became involved in local politics, campaigning door-to-door for candidates and raising funds. They supported community organizations, including the Home of the Good Shepherd. She was a member of the Wives of the 57th TAC Fighter Wing club. He preceded her in death.

A good athlete most of her life, Ruby played in local women's softball leagues before taking the helm of the Sunrise Hospital Men's D Division team in 1982. At the regionals, as the only woman coach, she was snubbed by the public address announcer who declined to announce her name to the crowd.

Undaunted, Ruby led her squad through the 48-team event to the finals, losing to champion Carson City.

Ruby began her career at Sunrise in 1971 as a volunteer hostess and later became public relations director. She left in 1984 to open a bed and breakfast in Napa, Calif., said co-worker and friend Teresa Duke.

In 1987 Ruby returned to Las Vegas and served as public relations director at Desert Orthopedics. In 1995, she took the PR post at MountainView that she held until her death, Duke said

In addition to Andress, Ruby is survived by two brothers, Gail Andress and Don Pullium; another sister-in-law, Barbara Pullium; a son, Jeffrey Ruby; three daughters, Lori Thompson, Pamela Matulich and Michelle McClendon; a daughter-in-law, Sherry Ruby; three sons-in-law, Kit Thompson, Dave Matulich and Pat McClendon, and six grandchildren.

The family said donations may be made in Ruby's memory to Nathan Adelson Hospice.