My mother, Ruth Lesser, who has died aged 95, was held in high regard in the world of aphasia – loss of language – and speech therapy.
She joined the sub-department of speech at the University of Newcastle in the late 1970s, at a time when it was under threat of closure. Ruth took it in hand, becoming senior lecturer in 1982, head of the department of speech in 1983, and in 1991 professor of speech and language pathology. The department became nationally and internationally respected under her leadership, and on retirement in 1995 she was made professor emeritus – continuing academic work for a further decade.
