Pismo Beach woman loses fight to cancer but her fully-lived life lives on

Nicole von Ruden was a television producer and journalist and a teacher in Shell Beach

Dawn White

Comments (0) |

E-Mail

Text Size:

tool goes here

A Pismo Beach woman who once ran the Olympic torch through part of San Luis Obispo County has lost her battle with brain cancer.

Nicole von Ruden was known throughout the South County for her work as a television producer in Hollywood and for her stints as a teacher and tutor at Shell Beach Elementary School.

She died on Aug. 7 at the age of 40.

Her friends and coworkers said Wednesday that they’ll miss her optimism and humor.

“Anyone that knew her would agree she had a way with making people laugh,” said Gretchen Anderson of Arroyo Grande, who first met von Ruden at Arroyo Grande High School. “She had a memory that wouldn’t quit.”

The Arroyo Grande High graduate’s career included work as a television journalist working for CNN, Entertainment Tonight and more recently, the Dr. Phil show.

Her resume included coverage of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New York City and the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

While working as a segment director on the Dr. Phil show, host Phil McGraw honored her on the show for her courageous fight against cancer and gave her and her family a trip to Utah, Anderson said.

He also brought in the crew from MTV’s show “Pimp My Ride” to jazz up the scooter she used to get around when the tumor began to affect her ability to walk.

In 2002, von Ruden was one of 20 county residents who ran the Olympic torch locally before the winter games in Salt Lake City.

She was chosen for facing her fight head-on against the brain tumor that she was first diagnosed with in 2000.

Before she carried the Olympic torch, she told The Tribune that she did it for the people affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“Maybe by carrying the torch, I’m meant to help people realize they should live life to the fullest,” she said in late 2001. “I live my life like that anyway.”

In 2006, her cancer returned. Friends said despite it affecting her physically, she remained energetic and optimistic.

“After being diagnosed, she was still such an enthusiastic, bright and sunny person,” said Matt Schmieg, a sixth-grade teacher that worked with her at Shell Beach Elementary.

Teacher Steve Sharp said that her physical trials never affected her outlook on life.

“She was not the same person physically but she didn’t let that bother her,” Sharp said.

Von Ruden is survived by her parents, Dale and June von Ruden of Pismo Beach, and four siblings.

A private memorial is scheduled in Cambria on Saturday.