Judge Ruby Kless Sondock

The family of acclaimed jurist, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Judge Ruby Kless Sondock announce her death on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the age of 100. A lifetime Houstonian, Ruby was born on April 26,1926 to Celia and Herman Louis Kless. From early on, her intellect, determination, and talent signaled a bright and productive future. At age 7, she was awarded the $1.00 first prize in a short story writing contest sponsored by the Houston Post newspaper. This was to be the beginning of a long line of “firsts” in her distinguished career. At a young age, the “Kless Sisters”, Ruby and her sister Florence, were accomplished entertainers on the Houston Orpheum circuit, invited to sing on radio shows and to dance on stages at events held all over Houston. In her teens, she modeled for Sakowitz, Foley’s, and Levy’s later sharing that she got the first of every Shirley Temple dress from Foley’s. From her early formative years, it was clear that no moss would grow under young Ruby’s feet! After skipping several grades, Ruby graduated as valedictorian of San Jacinto High School. She then matriculated at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, leaving after two years to return home to marry her high school sweetheart, Melvin Sondock, who soon departed to Italy as a fighter pilot in World War II. Melvin and Ruby were married for over seventy wonderful and eventful years before Melvin died at age 91. True to form, Ruby resumed her college education when her children, Marcia and Sandy, began their grade school education. College was followed by the University of Houston Law Center where she graduated first in her class in 1961. She then joined the law office of Fred Parks where she practiced family law for twelve years. It was during her tenure practicing family law that Ruby noticed and then forcefully addressed the inequities facing women in their daily lives and particularly within the legal and court systems. She has been widely recognized for her contributions to women’s rights beginning long before there were any organized movements or catchall phrases like “women’s lib” and “feminism”. She simply recognized the unaddressed needs and rights of her clients and set about improving them, all the while laying the groundwork for the long overdue recognition of all women’s rights everywhere. The firsts kept on rolling. In 1973, Governor Preston Smith appointed Ruby to serve as judge of Harris County Domestic Relations Court No. 5, the first woman in Harris County to hold a district level judgeship. Four years later, Governor Dolph Briscoe appointed her to the 234th District Court, the first woman to hold that distinction in Harris County. Then, in 1982, Governor Bill Clements appointed Judge Sondock to the Texas Supreme Court to fill the place of Judge James Denton who passed away suddenly. Ruby was the first woman to serve as a full-time justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. Though offered a nomination to serve as Chief Justice, Judge Sondock instead elected to return to Houston to be with family and friends. She returned to her former courtroom until 1989 when she retired. She then became an of council attorney for the New York-based firm of Weil Gotshal and Manges. She completed her storied legal career as a mediator in her own Houston office. As you might imagine, folks took notice of this determined, honorable, and dedicated jurist and accolades rolled in. The State Bar of Texas proclaimed Ruby a “Texas Legal Legend” in 2015. A University of Houston Law Center lecture series was named in her honor: the Ruby Kless Sondock Lecture in Legal Ethics which she attended to her 100th year. Every year, one woman lawyer or judge receives the Ruby Kless Sondock Award from the Houston Bar Association for exceptional achievement and leadership in the law. Judge Sondock was the first recipient of this honor. UH Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes said of her “Like so many other women trailblazers, Justice Sondock succeeded with grace, dignity, self-assurance and courage, not letting obstacles or barriers stand in her way”. It is important to note that Ruby did not rest on her laurels; but instead, devoted much of her time and energy to improving the lives and careers of others. She was a consummate coach, advisor, and cheerleader. For decades, she tracked the careers of young lawyers and upon their successes, sent congratulatory handwritten notes. She noticed and she cared. She also founded the first Houston-based attorney association for women. Her attention and generosity were not limited to legal associates, but was widely dispersed to assist friends, clients in need, and, incredibly, even some who appeared before her in court with tragic stories and life circumstances that required tenderness and compassion in addition to the ministrations of the legal system. Ruby’s passions extended beyond the law, most durably to her beloved family. Melvin and Ruby spent seventy years deeply in love and awed by the talents and successes of the other. They travelled the world, fished the Galveston jetties till the sun set, and enjoyed the company of lifelong friends, measurably enhanced by Ruby’s incredible cooking. In addition to Melvin, Ruby was pre-deceased by her sister, Florence Yellen; her son-in-law Howard Marcus; and two grandchildren, Jason and David Marcus. She is survived by her sister Jackie Mazow (Malcolm); her daughters Marcia Cohen (Michael) and Sandy Marcus (Stan Poladsky); four grandchildren, Josh Cohen (Jennifer), Jamie Lipsitz (Trey), Matthew Marcus (Brittany), Todd Marcus; 3 great-grandchildren, Ella Cohen, Lucy Cohen, Kade Lipsitz; and many loved nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express gratitude for the loving care given to her by Crisel McKinney. A cemetery chapel service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet St., Houston, Texas, 77074. In her memory, contributions may be sent to the Jason and David Playground at Congregation Emanu El, (https://www.emanuelhouston.org/give/endowment_funds), University of Houston Law Center, (https://www.law.uh.edu), Cottey College, (https://cottey.edu), or to the charity of your choice. We will dearly miss our little dynamo of a jurist and best kind of person, but have been blessed to be near her, to learn from her, and most of all, to be loved by her.

Judge Ruby Kless Sondock

April 26, 1926 - July 21, 2026