Ruth Ann Espo, 71, community activist

RUTH ANN ESPO

Ruth Ann (Sidel) Espo, a community activist who endured three battles with cancer, died Tuesday of breast cancer at her home in Wellesley. She was 71.

Mrs. Espo was born in Brookline and graduated from Brookline High School in 1955. She majored in English literature at Brown University, graduating on the dean's list in 1959.

She met her husband of 48 years, Stephen C. Espo, while in college.

The family lived in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Brookline before moving to Needham in 1961 and to Weston in 1968.

She worked primarily as a fund-raiser and program director for nonprofits. After that, she spent 14 years heading the electives program at the Brooks Middle School in Lincoln.

In 1975, Mrs. Espo was first diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer.

Mrs. Espo was diagnosed and treated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1992. She survived after a stem cell transplant at New England Medical Center.

She was diagnosed with a second bout of breast cancer in 2005.

Her son Peter said his mother was passionate about helping the disadvantaged, even as she battled life-threatening diseases. He hopes other cancer patients gain inspiration from her resilience.

"She was so strong through adversity," the Brookline resident said. "She realized every day how lucky she was to be alive and how much others with disadvantages could benefit from her work."

In addition to her husband and son, Mrs. Espo leaves another son, Andy of Natick; a daughter, Sue Greenfield of Sharon, and two grandsons.

Services were held yesterday at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley.