MS PUERTO RICO SENIOR AMERICA 2011,
RUTH GONZALEZ BERKEL

CONGRATULATIONS to Ruth Gonzalez Berkel, Ms. Puerto Rico 2011!

RUTH GONZALEZ BERKEL was born in Puerto Rico and has lived in Sarasota, Florida for 46 years with her husband, Elmer. She is 77 years old, has two children, Diane Elizabeth Suner and Eric Berkel, and two grandchildren. Ruth has earned Bachelor degrees in Social Work, Religious Education, and Computer Programming, with additional education in Statistics and Psychometrics. She worked at Sarasota High School in the Exceptional Student Education Program, and retired in 1996.

She is a member of many philanthropic and civic organizations and has received many awards for her volunteer work as Spanish interpreter; translator; junior golf teacher; The Sarasota Senior Theatre; The American Red Cross; and The Sarasota All Faiths Food Bank. Her hobbies include golf, sewing, cross-stitching, runway modeling and dancing. Ruth is an avid golfer and has won 26 gold medals in the Senior Olympic Games. She has been to three National Senior Olympics Games representing Florida. She is co-founder of the Ryder Memorial Hospital annual golf tournament, in Puerto Rico where she was born.

Ruth feels that meeting exceptional women from all over the nation helps to enrich her life. Her philosophy of life is that true happiness comes through giving, sharing and helping others unconditionally.

Ruth is always ready to perform at retirement centers, adult assisted communities, nursing homes, schools, civic organizations, alone or with the "Fuego Espanol" Dance Company.