Benita Roth

Benita Roth passed away peacefully in NYC on May 27, 2023 after a heroic battle with an aggressive form of cancer. She was blessed to have family and many close friends at her side until she made her transition. Originally from Los Angeles, Benita received her bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and PhD from UCLA. She was Professor of Sociology and Director of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York, where she taught and mentored undergraduate and graduate students for over two decades. An acclaimed scholar of social movements, she authored numerous articles as well as two books: Separate Roads to Feminism: Black, Chicana, and White Feminist Movements in America\'s Second Wave, which won the 2006 Distinguished Book Award from the Sex and Gender Section of the American Sociological Association; and The Life and Death of ACT UP/LA: Anti-AIDS Activism in Los Angeles, both published by Cambridge University Press. Benita was a longtime labor activist through the United University Professions of New York State. She served on the union’s Executive Board and contract negotiating team. She was Vice President for Academics of the Binghamton chapter, for which she had previously served as President. In addition, Benita worked actively with TruthPharm, a local organization that advocates a harm-reduction approach to substance use. Predeceased by parents, Minia and Gerald Roth, she is survived by sister Bella “Dolly” Rizzo, niece Mina Rizzo, uncle Mark Rotblit and extended family in Israel; cats Bhuster and Bam Bam; as well as an extensive network of dear friends. Benita was devoted to making the world a better place. She poured her life energy into causes that addressed social inequities and injustices and did so brilliantly. Benita’s caring, funny, and tough presence in this world will be deeply missed. May she rest in peace and power. The memorial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 25 at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to TruthPharm.org or to Binghamton University Foundation Memorial Fund at www.giving.binghamton.edu indicating “The Benita Roth Fund,  #10351” in the comments section.