Ruth Ungar Merenda (born 1976, New York) is a singer songwriter who performs with many folk bands. She also plays fiddle, ukulele and guitar. She is the daughter of Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy.She resides in the Hudson Valley of NY State with her husband Michael J. Merenda, Jr and their two children, Willy and Opal Merenda. In 2013 the couple launched a bi-annual music festival at the Ashokan Center called The Hoot.