UPDATE: Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest park ranger, has passed away at the age of 104. Soskin, who made history as a trailblazer and a prominent civil rights activist, died at her home on Sunday, October 15, 2023, according to her son, Bob Reid.
Soskin served with the National Park Service from the age of 85 until her retirement at 100 in 2022, leading tours at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. Her journey was marked by resilience and a commitment to social justice that inspired many.
The news of her passing has drawn heartfelt tributes across social media, highlighting her multifaceted life as a mother, musician, author, and activist. A post on her official Facebook page celebrated her legacy, saying, “Throughout her remarkable life, Betty was a mother, daughter, musician, author, political activist, wife, record store owner, songwriter, painter, grandmother, great-grandmother, prolific blogger, and more.”
Born as Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921, Soskin experienced the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 while living with her Creole family in New Orleans. She later moved to Oakland, California, where she co-founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area in 1945.
Her work with the U.S. Air Force began in 1942, but she resigned upon discovering that she was hired under the assumption she was white. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her lifelong commitment to civil rights. Soskin played a crucial role in developing a general management plan for the Home Front park and became a beloved figure in her community.
Throughout her life, Soskin received numerous accolades, including being named California Woman of the Year in 1995. In 2015, she received a presidential coin from President Barack Obama after lighting the National Christmas tree at the White House. Despite a violent robbery in 2016 that left her injured, she demonstrated remarkable strength by returning to work just weeks later.
In addition to her accolades, Soskin was honored with entry into the Congressional Record and was named Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2018. Her life story has become a symbol of perseverance, activism, and the enduring spirit of community engagement.
As the nation mourns her loss, Soskin’s impact on the National Park Service and her contributions to civil rights will not be forgotten. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
Next, the community and officials will likely honor her contributions with memorial events, celebrating the life and achievements of a woman who changed the landscape of activism and public service.
