PORTLAND – Ruth L. O’Halloran, 77, died of cancer Tuesday, April 12, at her home at 122 Gleckler Road, Portland, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Lewiston on May 18, 1927, the daughter of W. Scott Libbey and Helen McCarthy Libbey. She attended Lewiston schools and Elmhurst Academy in Providence, R.I. She completed her B.A. at Trinity College in Washington, D.C., and took her M.A. in medieval history from University College, Dublin. Her doctorate in church history was completed at the Catholic University of America.

In a teaching career that spanned more than 50 years, she taught history and English in Boston, Mass., California, and Dublin, Ireland, as well as locally at St. Joseph’s College, Andover College, Westbrook College, Husson College and Portland Adult Education. In recent years, at the Senior College, USM, Ruth specialized in courses on Irish history and culture.

Her many interests included the restoration of old houses in Ireland and the United States; horticulture, especially Japanese gardens; and historical research and writing. She spent many summers in Wayne, where she lived year-round in the 1990s. She also traveled extensively, having visited more than 50 countries over a 50-year period.

Over the course of her life, Ruth experienced several tragic losses, with the deaths of her husband and oldest daughter. Still, she never allowed her personal suffering to come before the needs of others.

She touched many people, both as a teacher and as a generous woman of great character and wit. Even in illness, her vivacity shone through, and she remained unfailingly considerate of others. She will be profoundly missed by many.

She was a communicant of Holy Martyrs Church in Falmouth.

She is survived by her daughter, Kate, and son, Scott of Portland; daughters, Margaret of Naples, Fla., Jane and Beth of Dublin, Ireland; and three granddaughters, Aoife Baker, Emma Leach, and Maura Leach. She also leaves sisters Elaine Holman of Florida and Anne Meldrum of Lewiston, as well as brothers, Scott Libbey, of California, and Paul Libbey of Lewiston; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Fionn Finbarr O’Halloran, in 1969, and her daughter, Mire, in 1982.

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