Betty Reid Soskin, a 104-year-old trailblazer who spent a century in service, died peacefully at her Richmond home on the winter solstice, family announced.
A Life of Service
Betty Reid Soskin was a beloved former Bay Area park ranger who devoted more than four decades to protecting natural heritage. She retired in 2022 at the age of 100 after a career that began in the 1940s. Her final shift took place at Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, where she delivered an interpretive program to the community. The family noted that she “led a fully packed life and was ready to leave.”
Legacy and Honors
Soskin’s achievements earned her the title of the National Park Service’s eldest ranger. In 1995 she was named California’s Woman of the Year. The community celebrated her 103rd birthday in September 2024 with an intimate ceremony in the library of Betty Reid Soskin Middle School in El Sobrante. The school bears her name in recognition of her lifelong advocacy.
Personal History
She was born in 1921 and grew up in a family that moved to Oakland after historic flooding devastated New Orleans in 1927. Her great-grandfather had been a slave, a fact that shaped her lifelong commitment to civil rights. During World War II she worked as a file clerk for the Boilermakers Union A-36, an all-Black union auxiliary.
Awards and Recognition
Soskin received an honorary doctorate from Mills College for her contributions to the Oakland community as a business owner and civil-rights leader. In 2015 President Barack Obama presented her with a commemorative coin, which was later stolen during a robbery but subsequently replaced by the White House.
The 2016 Attack
In June 2016 a midnight robbery at her Richmond home left Soskin with a black eye and other injuries. She described waking to a man rifling through a jewelry box and being punched before being dragged into a hallway. Despite the assault she returned to work a week later, stating, “The experience took something away from me, and I’m still trying to measure that.”
Resilience After Trauma
After the attack she told KRON, “I was almost obsessive about not wanting to look like a victim, because I did not feel like a victim.” Her determination earned her a Congressional Record statement honoring her courage during the home invasion.
Community Impact
Soskin’s legacy extends beyond her ranger duties. She inspired the creation of a middle school named after her and the film “Sign My Name to Freedom,” a project she supported until her death. Her family encourages tributes through donations to the school and the film’s completion.
Family and Memorial Plans
The family wrote, “This morning on the Winter Solstice, our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Betty Reid Soskin, passed away peacefully at her home in Richmond, CA at 104 years old. She was attended by family. She led a fully packed life and was ready to leave.” They have announced that a public memorial will be scheduled at a later date.
Community Response
Local residents, former colleagues, and civil-rights activists have expressed deep admiration for Soskin’s life work. Her story continues to inspire new generations of park rangers and activists throughout the Bay Area.
Final Years
In the months leading up to her passing, Soskin remained active in community events, sharing her experiences and advocating for conservation and equality. She maintained her routine and sense of purpose, which she credited with helping her recover from the 2016 assault.
Key Takeaways
- Betty Reid Soskin, 104, passed peacefully in Richmond on the winter solstice.
- She was a pioneering park ranger, civil-rights leader, and the National Park Service’s eldest ranger.
- Her legacy lives on through a middle school, a commemorative film, and continued community activism.
Betty Reid Soskin’s remarkable life exemplifies dedication to public service, civil rights, and environmental stewardship, leaving an enduring legacy that will inspire future generations.
