Lasting Memories

Annina Ruhe Hardenbergh Demmon
July 4, 1933-Dec. 20, 2025
Palo Alto, California

Annina Ruhe Hardenbergh Demmon (1933-2025). On December 20, 2025, Annina passed away in Palo Alto, CA, surrounded by her loving family. Annina, or Nina as she was known to family and friends or “GG” to her 12 grandchildren, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Henry Hardenbergh, and was born in Bronxville, New York, on July 4th, 1933. Yes, Nina was a firecracker baby who hosted a 4th of July party for her family and friends on her birthday most years. Nina is predeceased by her husband of nearly 57 years, Roy Earl Demmon Jr., her brother Mark Hardenbergh, her sister-in-law, Tina Hardenbergh, and her nephew, Michael Hardenbergh.

Nina is survived by her 4 children (and spouses), Linda Demmon Walsh (Thomas Walsh), Roy E. “Terry” Demmon (Myn Demmon), Charles Demmon (Barbara Demmon) and Nancy Demmon Clifford (John Clifford), and by her 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren: Scott, Sarah, James and Bryan Walsh, Emily, Sarah and Troy Demmon, Kathy Demmon-Harbison and Greg Harbison, Brooke and Maisie Demmon-Harbison, Charles and Liz Demmon, Bailey Fowlkes, George Fowlkes, and Lucy Fowlkes Bell and Stephen Bell and Winston and Georgia Bell. When Nina and Roy were married, Nina said she wanted to have a big family and that is exactly what she got. Nina is also survived by her nieces/nephews, Steven Hardenbergh, Laura Hardenbergh Gifford, and Holly Hardenbergh.

After going to grade school in Bronxville, NY, Nina graduated from the Emma Willard School in 1951 and from Vassar College in 1955. Later that year, on September 10, 1955, Nina and Roy wed in the Reformed Church in Bronxville. In 1957, Nina and Roy followed the New York Giants in moving to the San Francisco Bay Area to start a new life. Roy’s mother, Betty Lucille Demmon, would follow them from Bronxville to the West Coast a few years later. They would go on to be San Francisco Giants season ticket holders from 1961 to today, and Nina could be seen keeping score at games throughout her life. It is somewhat poetic that Nina passed away in the exact same room at the Vi Nursing Home where one of her heroes passed away, Willie Mays.

While raising 4 children, Nina found time to volunteer for the Hillview School PTA and the Junior League of Palo Alto, becoming the President of both. She also served on the board of the Children’s Health Council. While Nina and Roy were living in Washington, DC, in the 1980s, Nina served on the Board of the Washington Opera and became very active with the Corcoran Gallery of Art, where she chaired the gallery’s Annual Ball, its biggest social event and largest fund-raising event of the year.

Moving back to the Bay Area in 1991, Nina volunteered her time mentoring grade school-age children at the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula, a call to service she shared with Roy. Nina also doted on her grandchildren attending countless sporting events, plays and birthday parties. Nina and Roy loved to travel and shared this love with the family as well as their friends. Nina went on intrepid trips with Roy around the world: by train from Beijing to Moscow and another trip by car from Aman, Jordan to Cairo across the Sinai Peninsula. Nina and Roy took the entire family, 22 children/spouses and grandchildren, on cruises, family holiday trips, an African safari and several Summer Olympics.

As an avid sportswoman, Nina was a daily jogger, tennis player, golfer and bridge player. Nina honed her athletic skills, as well as entertaining family and friends, over the years at the Circus Club, Menlo Country Club, Franciscan Club, Cypress Point Club, Chevy Chase Club and Sulgrave Club. Nina's favorite vacation spots featured not only her athletic interests but featured ocean views and warm sunshine: Hawaii, where Nina and Roy spent their honeymoon (and countless anniversaries), Carmel and the Bahamas. On their beloved Harbour Island, Nina and Roy could be found there from January to March most years, accompanied by many visiting family and friends.

Nina’s children and grandchildren would like to thank the caring nursing and administrative staff at Vi Living, where Nina lived for the past 14 years. We would also like to thank our friends, young and old, who have reached out with prayers, visits and support. God bless you all.

May Nina rest in peace at the side of her beloved, Roy, in the town where they grew up, met and wed.