Ruth Kraft, theater writer and publisher, 86

Ruth Kraft, a theater writer and publisher, died on May 9. She was 86.

Kraft was born on Feb. 17, 1927, in Hoboken, N.J., the daughter of Florence and Solomon Nathanson. After working a variety of jobs, she landed a staff position with Playbill magazine.

In 1966, Kraft moved to Los Angeles with her husband, Gilman, who owned and operated Playbill for 10 years. The couple co-founded Performing Arts magazine, a publication that served the Los Angeles County Music Center, the Pasadena Playhouse, the San Francisco Opera and Ballet and 40 other entertainment venues across California.

Gilman Kraft died in 1999. Playbill acquired Performing Arts in 2001 and closed the publication a year later.

Kraft is survived by daughters Susan Holley and Dana Kraft Kitaj; sons Frank Pelosa and Richard; 10 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. 

A celebration of Kraft’s life was held at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club on May 14. Donations can be made to the Westside Center for Independent Living, the Tower Cancer Foundation and/or The Heart Fund.