Ruth Knoll passed away on November 8, 2023 at the age of 87.

She joined the Hartford Union High School staff, where she spent her entire 40-year teaching career, in 1958. Ruth Knoll ran all choral activities including conducting choirs, providing voice lessons, preparing students for Solo and Ensemble events and acting as music director for the high school musicals until her retirement in 1998. During her tenure at Hartford Union High School, Ruth Knoll established a collaboration with the Discalced Carmelite Friars of Holy Hill, in Hubertus in which the high school Concert Choir and alumni perform a carols concert prior to Christmas Eve's midnight mass and serve as the choir for the midnight mass. This tradition continues today, and has continued for more than 50 years.    

Ruth founded the Hartford Community Chorus in 1960-1961 and was its conductor for 55 years. She also shared her talents with the First United Methodist Church, directing its senior choir and all music events, including Bits of Broadway until 2015. 

Ruth Knoll's auditioned Concert Choir was selected by audition to perform at conferences, as well as with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Ruth Knoll served a two-year term as Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association and was Registration Co-Chair for a regional, six-state convention in both 1980 and 1990.