Rosemary Radford Ruether's name is known worldwide for her ground-breaking contribution to feminist theology. Her reputation as a feminist scholar motivated me to leave my home country, Brazil, to pursue doctoral studies under her mentorship in the mid 1980s in the joint Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Northwestern University graduate program. As time went by, I had not only an outstanding adviser for my theological education but also a mentor for life. Rosemary is, however, a role model nearly impossible to follow. Few women in our generation have published, traveled or lectured as much as Rosemary while also being a spouse, mother, grandmother, gardener, political activist, artist, and dog lover.

Rosemary and her husband, political scientist Herman (Herc) Ruether, have modeled a family lifestyle that overcomes the public–private dichotomy. Besides three children, their household often included students, overseas guests or friends in need of a temporary shelter. Rosemary and Herc's longlasting relationship always reflected the ideals of equality and companionship. They have shared a deep commitment to making the world a better place and, in their common journey, their love for one another became more than a private affair: it has been a sharing of ideals, a taste for beauty, a longing for justice, and a striving for peace. I have been a recipient of their hospitality and a beneficiary of their enduring friendship, gifts that I have cherished and tried to incorporate in my own life.