Betty Reid Soskin, a woman who inspired us all by serving as the oldest National Park Service Ranger, has passed away in her home in Richmond, California. She was 104 years old. Her family acknowledged her December 22, 2025, death through a social media statement.
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From the Big Easy to the Bay Area
Born in Detroit on December 22, 1921, Betty Charbonnet lived there briefly with her parents, Dorson Louis Charbonnet and Lottie Breaux Allen, before they moved back to their hometown, New Orleans. The family moved to the West Bay Area in 1927, after losing their home during the Great Flood.
She married Mel Reid shortly after graduating from Crestmont High School. During World War II, she worked as a file clerk in the segregated Union Hall of Boilermakers’, A-36.
In 1945, Reid Soskin opened one of the first Black-owned record shops in California, Reid’s Records in Berkeley. A mother of four, she actively fundraised for the Black Panther Party. She was also active in politics, becoming a delegate for George McGovern in his Presidential bid against Richard Nixon.
After her first marriage ended in divorce, she married a UC Berkeley psychology professor, William Soskin, and they also divorced.
Her Activism Led to A Career in Politics
Before she was a park ranger, Reid Soskin led a life of service to her community. Following the health decline of her first husband, Reid Soskin took over the management of Reid’s Records in the late 1970s. However, because of the drug problems plaguing the area surrounding the store, she made noise at City Hall for them to clean the neighborhood. That led to jobs as a legislative aide, a Berkeley council member, and a field representative for two members of the State Assembly.
From Park Advocate to Park Ranger
In the early 2000s, Reid Soskin first became involved with the National Park Service when she attended meetings between Richmond, California, and the agency as they planned the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Homefront National Historical Park. At 84, she began uncovering the untold stories of African Americans and earned a temporary position with the NPS. In 2007, when she was 86, her position became permanent. Reid Soskin’s role included leading public programs and sharing personal remembrances at the park visitor center.
Despite sustaining injuries during a burglary attack and a stroke, Reid Soskin continued in her role until 2022, when she retired. As the oldest active Park Ranger, Reid Soskin took her responsibility seriously. She even wore it when off-duty as an opportunity to inspire others.
“When I’m on the streets or on an escalator or elevator, I am making every little girl of color aware of a career choice she may not have known she had,” Ms. Soskin said in a 2015 interview with the Department of the Interior. “The pride is evident in their eyes.”
A Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother
Over the years, Reid Soskin received many honors. She was named California Woman of the Year in 1995, the Sierra Club’s Trailblazer Award in 2016, and one of Glamour’s Women of the Year in 2018. In 2021, Juan Crespi Middle School was renamed after the Bay Area icon following student lobbying for a name change.
Reid Soskin is survived by her son, three daughters, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Our condolences go out to the family.
