Johanna ‘Jojo’ Luddy, co-owner of Ruth’s on Treat Street, dies at 43

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Johanna Christine Luddy, beloved co-owner of Ruth’s on Treat Street in San Francisco’s Mission District, died on Sunday, June 1, after a second round of cancer. She was just 43.

A celebration of her life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, at Ruth’s, the bar she helped build and poured her heart into.

Known to most as Jojo, Luddy’s loved ones remember her for her infectious laughter, boundless warmth, and a remarkable ability to make everyone feel loved and seen. Her presence could light up any room, and she left behind a legacy of kindness, joy, and deep community connection.

“She had a warmth about her,” said longtime friend Sean Somers, owner of Oldtown Tattoo on 23rd Street. “She listened deeply, made sure everyone felt comfortable, and always looked for the good in people.”

Whether you were a lifelong friend or a passing acquaintance, Jojo made you feel special and truly acknowledged.

Originally from Sacramento, Jojo moved to San Francisco for school. She lived briefly near Lake Merced, but quickly gravitated toward the sunny streets of the Mission District. She eventually settled in an apartment across from Dolores Park, where she lived for 22 years.

“She loved the Mission because it was full of real, working people from all walks of life,” said her mother, Kathryn Dresslar.

Jojo was acutely aware of the effects of gentrification on her neighborhood, especially as longtime residents and friends were pushed out during the tech boom. In response, she leaned into action: Building community, preserving culture, and creating spaces where everyone felt welcome.

In 2022, Jojo and her close friend Kim Cruise became co-owners of Ruth’s on Treat Street, located at 3050 24th Street. The two had long worked in the neighborhood — Jojo at the Blind Cat Bar, Kim at Clooney’s Pub — and shared a vision for what the space could become. Eventually, with persistence and passion, they convinced building manager Dan Lyons to let them take over the old Blind Cat and transform it into something new.

They named it Ruth’s, in honor of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a symbol of justice, strength, and fierce compassion, much like Jo herself.

“I can’t imagine a world without her light, her love — her light,” Dresslar said.

Jojo’s life was filled with friendship, laughter, and love. She lives on in the hearts of those who knew her, in small acts of kindness, in the glow of a Mission sunset, and in the familiar sound of her favorite song, “Sweet Leaf” by Black Sabbath.