BREAKING NEWS: Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest active park ranger, has passed away at the age of 104. Soskin, who worked for the National Park Service from the age of 85 until her retirement at 100 in 2022, died at her home in Richmond, California, on Sunday, October 15, 2023, her son Bob Reid confirmed.
This news comes as a significant loss for those who admired her extraordinary life and contributions. Soskin was not only a park ranger but also a musician, author, political activist, and a role model for many. Her Facebook page celebrated her legacy, highlighting her diverse roles as a mother, grandmother, and prolific blogger.
Soskin was well-known for leading tours at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, sharing her unique perspectives and experiences from a life that included surviving the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and being a civil rights activist. Born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921, she moved to Oakland, California, where she co-founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area in 1945.
Throughout her life, she received numerous accolades, including being named California Woman of the Year in 1995 and receiving a presidential coin from President Barack Obama in 2015 after she lit the National Christmas tree at the White House. In 2018, Glamour Magazine honored her as Woman of the Year.
In a harrowing incident in June 2016, Soskin was attacked in her home by a robber, yet she displayed remarkable resilience by recovering and returning to work just weeks after the assault. The coin she received from President Obama was replaced following the incident.
Betty Reid Soskin’s impact extends beyond her work as a park ranger; she was a beacon of hope and inspiration for many, representing the struggles and successes of a generation. As the nation mourns her passing, her legacy as a pioneer and advocate for civil rights and history will continue to resonate.
NEXT: Tributes and memorial services for Soskin are expected as the community reflects on her remarkable contributions. Stay tuned for updates on how her legacy will be honored moving forward.
