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At 104 Years Old, Katty Reid Soskin Reflects on Politics, Memory, and the Various Versions of Herself, Revisiting the Journey That Led Her from Singer and Activist to One of the Most Iconic Park Rangers in the United States
Katty Reid Soskin gained national attention at 92 because she became, almost unintentionally, a kind of celebrity within the National Park Service. She was already known for being the oldest full-time park ranger in the United States in 2013, at 85. Nevertheless, she was placed on unpaid leave during the government shutdown, along with thousands of other employees. The situation caught the media’s attention, and within a few days, various outlets sought Soskin for interviews.
She said that the shutdown frustrated her because she wanted to continue her work as a park ranger. In addition, she claimed she had tasks to fulfill. The media coverage eventually sparked a new phase of visibility, as she often mentions.
The Recognition That Came After
The public exposure propelled new projects. In 2018, she released her memoir. Shortly after, in 2020, she premiered a documentary dedicated to her journey.
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Another film is still in production. Barack Obama described Soskin as profoundly inspiring. Annie Leibovitz photographed her.
Glamour magazine named her Woman of the Year. Now, at 104 years old, she believes she has accomplished everything she needed to achieve.
Soskin officially left her position at 100. Her work was essential for the creation of the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, located in Richmond.
There, she shared war stories experienced by Black individuals because she understood that memory is shaped by those who participate in the process of remembrance. She said her role was almost like leading a revolution funded by the government itself.
The Perception of Time Throughout Life
Reaching her second century of life altered her sense of time. Soskin claims that everything blends together, as if recent and old events are too close.
Many memories seem to happen simultaneously. She mentions that time feels compressed and that political events enter that same flow.
Memories about social changes also follow this pattern. She cites the deployment of the National Guard to American cities during the Trump administration as an example of events that, for her, merge into a single narrative.
The Perspective on Politics Today
Even in retirement, Soskin continues to closely follow politics. She observes the current landscape with increasing concern because, according to her, during the 1950s and 60s, there was a continuous sense of progress. Now, she describes the environment as confusing and fears that the country has lost its way.
The unease blends with reflections on the future. She says she grew up believing the coming decades would always be better. For the first time, she admits she is not sure about that. Doubt continues to be present in her comments.
The Many Versions of Betty
Soskin was born Betty Charbonnet. She began her life in New Orleans until her family had to move to Oakland after the floods of 1927. Her father had Creole origins. Her mother, Cajun ancestry.
Her great-grandmother was born enslaved in 1846 and lived to be 102 years old. Over the years, as her story gained prominence, new parts of her journey came to light.
She often mentions that there were several Bettys. The Betty who owned Reid’s Records, which opened in 1945. The Betty, the protest singer.
The Betty, the activist who raised funds for the Black Panthers and worked on community campaigns. There was also the Betty who worked in local government.
All of this before becoming the oldest and possibly one of the most authentic park rangers in the National Park Service.
Deep Transformations in the 1980s
The major turning point occurred when she lost three important men in her life: her first husband, Mel Reid; her second husband, William Soskin; and her father.
The deaths happened in a short period in the late ’80s. She describes this moment as a transition from one existence to another.
After these losses, she says she finally became Betty. This discovery changed her way of occupying the world. She felt she had much to accomplish.
And she continued to follow that impulse until she turned 100. She claims she was no longer graduating. She just was.
A Memorable Encounter in Washington
In 2015, she was invited to introduce Barack Obama during the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Before this, she had declined an invitation from the White House during the George W. Bush administration.
On the day of the event, she recalls looking more at Michelle Obama than at the president. She even commented out loud about how beautiful she thought she was.
Soskin carried a photo of her great-grandmother, Leontine Breaux Allen, in her pocket. The memento reinforced the symbolic weight of that occasion.
She describes the moment as being connected to American history by a direct line. At the same time, she observed the White House built by enslaved people.
She keeps a commemorative coin she received from Obama. The original was stolen during a robbery, so this is a substitute.
Even so, she says that nothing will compare to the moment lived during that encounter. For her, memories are like ashes pointing to what has already passed.
Identity and Music in Soskin’s Life
Soskin no longer defines herself as a feminist or activist. She also does not classify herself as a singer. She considers herself just a person who sang.
She began to write songs when she received a guitar and was going through a difficult time in her marriage. She thought she was recalling old facts, but later discovered she was actually creating.
She even performed with Pete Seeger. Later, she spent two weeks backstage on a musical project, invited by Henry Hampton.
She had an audition scheduled for the Village Vanguard in New York but backed out the day before. At a party, she saw people using marijuana and decided that environment was not for her.
Singing Only in Dreams
Today, Soskin says she only sings while she sleeps. She claims to remember every verse that comes to her in those moments. Music remains present in an intimate way, but distant from the stage.
Longevity as a Gift from Soskin
In times when living many years is considered valuable, Soskin views her own longevity naturally.
She believes she has received this extra time. She does not know where it will lead her and does not try to control it. She just observes life moving along. And, in her words, everything is loose.
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