Telegraph Hill Non-Profit Worker Found Dead In Daly City, Husband Arrested But Not Charged With Murder

DALY CITY (KPIX) -- The mysterious death of a popular non-profit administrator is sending shockwaves of emotion through the San Francisco community center where she has served for nearly four decades.

Ruby Gim, 65, was found unresponsive at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday inside her home in the 400 block of Florence Street in Daly City.

Police arrested her husband, Daniel Thomas, 65, for domestic violence and for violating a domestic violence restraining order, but have not charged him with the murder of his wife.

"We have classified it as a suspicious death," said Daly City Police Sgt. Harold Rolfes.

The San Mateo County coroner's office tells KPIX 5 that no cause of death has been determined, and that the office is still awaiting test results.

Sgt. Rolfe said Thomas was taken directly to jail after an interview with police.

"I don't know if it was evidence on the scene or whether it was based on statements he made after his arrest," said Rolfe.

"He has not been charged with murder," Rolfes said. "We need to get the coroner's report back, so we can't make that determination yet. I'm hoping there will be some more information in the next few days."

Gim had worked at the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center (Tel-Hi) for 36 years in roles ranging from a teacher of pre-schoolers to her most recent capacity coordinating programs for elderly community members as the Senior Program Manager.

"Ruby was the soul of Tel-HI," said Nestor Fernandez, Tel-Hi's Executive Director. "Many of the staff members considered her a mentor and even a second mother."

She was often the first to greet generations of students, family members and even strangers with a warm smile and a history lesson, said Fernandez.

"Directors have come and gone, but Ruby has been the constant," Fernandez said. "The North Beach community knows Ruby. I always used to tease her that she's the 'mayor of North Beach.' Everybody knows Ruby."

"We are bringing in grief counselors to assist staffers who are devastated," said Fernandez.

A memorial is being planned.

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