Author Cohen was born and grew up in Worcester and was educated in the Worcester Public Schools. She is the mother of three married children and the grandmother of six. Ruth is a licensed elementary school teacher and is a graduate of Worcester State College with a B.S. degree in elementary education and a M.E.D in Counselor Education. In addition, she has worked as a rehab specialist in facilities for people with mental illness diagnoses. Currently she is employed as a substitute teacher in the Shrewsbury and Northboro school system. When she is not subbing, she attends a current events group, the senior writers group and the senior bowing league and loves the Red Sox."