Philanthropist Pat Carruthers, who with his wife gave millions to Hamilton, dies

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“This morning around 9:45 a.m. the most wonderful, caring and considerate man I ever knew went to join my mother in heaven,” the post read. “Daddy will be with me always and with my children, but I will miss him every single day of my life.”

Sara Carruthers, who won the Republican primary for the 51st Ohio House District last month, said she grew up watching her father make a difference in the lives of everyone he met, and dedicate himself to his community.

“His presence is felt throughout our home and throughout Hamilton, Cincinnati, and Glendale,” she said.

Mr. Carruthers was a descendant of the Procter family of Procter & Gamble, and grew up on a cattle farm in Glendale. He served eight years in the Marine Corps before attending Miami University with the class of 1953. Following his time in school, he moved to Hamilton for a job at Champion Paper Company where he met his wife, Donna.

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Donna inspired Mr. Carruthers to give back, starting with an initiative to help families in need each year at Christmastime.

“He was truly one of the greatest Hamilton residents ever,” Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller told the Journal-News. “We honored him with a lifetime award for the character he has shown and we were proud to give that to him.”

Together, the Carruthers donated millions of dollars to their beloved communities, supporting organizations such as the Greater Hamilton Civic Theater, the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton, the Hamilton Police Department, and the Christ Church of Glendale.

In 2002, the couple donated $2.5 million to the Fitton Center for Creative Arts for a Carruthers Center for Arts and Technology, and exceeded a $10 million donation to the Fort Hamilton Hospital for a Ralph Rogan Carruthers Intensive Care Unit and the Donna Y. Carruthers Cardiovascular Services Suite.

“Pat was a great friend to the Fort Hamilton Hospital,” Michael Mewhirter, president of Fort Hamilton Hospital, said. “We owe Pat and his family a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

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After Donna's death in 2009, Mr. Carruthers still worked to carry on their love for giving, and created the Fine Arts Memorial Scholarship with the Hamilton Community Foundation in her name.

Mr. Carruthers was named Citizen of the Year along with his wife in 2001. In 2013, the Hamilton Community Foundation presented him with the Dave Belew Legacy Award for his meaningful contributions.

“His lifetime contributions will be with Hamiltonians for decades and decades,” Moeller said.

Though Sara was his only child, Mr. Carruthers is also survived by his twin grandchildren, Elizabeth Procter Carruthers and Ralph Rogan “Rogue” Carruthers II, whom he called “the apples of my eye,” in a previous Journal-News article.

“I am so grateful he was ever in our lives, but to have shared 56 years with him was a blessing,” Sara Carruthers said.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. June 13 at Christ Church Glendale, 965 Forest Ave. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, 11200 Princeton Pike, with a reception to follow in the Carruthers Ballroom at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts.