Betty Reid Soskin, celebrated for her role as the most senior National Park Service ranger in the United States, has passed away, as announced by her relatives on Sunday.
She reached the age of 104.
In a statement shared on Facebook, her family expressed:
"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. We understand the public nature of Betty's life, however we ask that you please respect the family's privacy at this time..
Born on September 22, 1921, Soskin contributed during World War II as a file clerk for a boilermaker's union and established Reid's Records in Berkeley, which operated for 75 years.
For over ten years, she served as an interpretative ranger at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Park Museum in Richmond.
She concluded her tenure with the National Park Service in 2022.
Prior to her employment with NPS, Soskin participated in planning sessions for the City of Richmond and NPS to create the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park.
In 2011, she secured a permanent position with NPS, conducting public programs and sharing her memories and insights at the park visitor center.
In September 2021, when asked by ABC7's Liz Kreutz about her longevity, Soskin responded, "I wish I knew. I'm not sure that there is a secret," Soskin said. "I think it's all just, one foot at a time. One foot in front of the other. I don't think any one of us really understands what it's about."
She attributed part of her long life to genetics, noting her mother lived to 101 and her grandmother, born into slavery in Louisiana in 1856, reached 102.
"And I was born in 1921," Soskin added, "And I'm still here," she said in 2021.
On her 100th birthday, a school was named in her honor, recognizing her as the country's oldest national park ranger.
Soskin was also known as an author, musician, and civil rights activist.
In the documentary "Sign My Name to Freedom," she disclosed, "There's a part of my life that I've kept hidden for a half century," reflecting on her musical passion.
In September 2025, ABC7 reported from El Sobrante where students from Soskin Middle School marked her 104th birthday.
Her family has requested donations to Betty Reid Soskin Middle School in El Sobrante or support for finishing her film "Sign My Name to Freedom" as a tribute.
A public memorial will be held, with details to be announced later.
