Rita Arditti
My mom, Rita Arditti, was a unique person who lived a great life and did many wonderful things for people. She left a warm and loving family that continues to strive for many of the things she so selflessly devoted herself to. She died on December 25th with dignity and grace, surrounded by the people who loved her; when her condition worsened, she knew that her time had come yet she was fearless.
Rita lived life on a grand scale – her first act in Argentina, her second one in Europe and the U.S., and her third act with Estelle Disch, her devoted life partner, and subsequently with all of us here in Cambridge. As a grandma, she fit the role to a t. She went from a young Argentinian middle- to upper-class kid raised not to question women's roles in the home to leading crusader for women's issues (notably as they applied to the world of science), from traditionalist researcher at Harvard Medical School to author on a book about the grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo. She was as much of a product of her generation as she was someone who defined it – her politics, her compassion for women in the Third World and, maybe most notably, her fight for breast cancer research and cancer's link to the environment. These are a handful of things that concerned her.
I would ask that we not mourn her too long, but that if you want to honor her go out and do something about one of the causes she fought for – carry on in her tradition even if it means reading a book or watching a story on the news about it. She would have wanted it that way.
She was a formidable intellect as can be evidenced by the walls of books in her home. She had a curiosity about an extremely wide number of topics, and she wasn't afraid of letting her opinions and ideas be known to the world at large. Only this week her letter to a newspaper about a local politician she endorses was published.
And as much as she devoted herself to the "big picture," she remained there for Estelle, me, her granddaughter Layla, and Layla's mother Naima Benali. No question but that our world is poorer without her today. She prepared us all for a life independent of her. She really was the person around whom the five of us congregated, and she was at the same time dependent on us but fully cognizant of the importance of self-reliance in life.
… I already miss her, but I know she's finished suffering and she's asking me, you, all of us, to continue to live as best as we can in a world that will always need people devoted to making it a better place.
I did an interview with Rita(Arditti)at least 11 years ago that I have saved to post, as she allowed,to the website. While she is gone, her voice remains to inspire us to become our most heroic selves: www.womenwarandwhat.org
www.womenwarandwhat.org
I think she would appreciate keeping the women, The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, her book, in the consciousness of women and girls. The women of whom she wrote were heroic and too often our women hero's do not get the recognition we need for ourselves,our daughters and granddaughters. Thank you, Rita, it was honor knowing you! let Rita's voice move us to actively bring our heroines from the shadows to the public eye.
about Rita, and the gifts she gave our world. I had the privilege of being her student in the late 70's. Now, as I sit on the couch writing this, next to my darling youngest grandchild, I once more know that the work I did about lesbian mothers was very worth while back then. Her enthusiastic support and focused questioning all lead me to this moment. Rita you would be so proud of the Occupy movement of today, so sad about the further degredation of our planet, and ever willing to be a loving family member, and aware of needing to help this world for them. Thank you Rita for all you did, we all miss you so very much.
about Rita, and the gifts she gave our world. I had the privilege of being her student in the late 70's. Now, as I sit on the couch writing this, next to my darling youngest grandchild, I once more know that the work I did about lesbian mothers was very worth while back then. Her enthusiastic support and focused questioning all lead me to this moment. Rita you would be so proud of the Occupy movement of today, so sad about the further degredation of our planet, and ever willing to be a loving family member, and aware of needing to help this world for them. Thank you Rita for all you did, we all miss you so very much.
i am sorry i did not know until now of Rita's passing...i wanted to share with her family that I taught SEARCHING FOR LIFE in every human rights class i've delivered for the past 10 years--I had the privilege of hosting Rita once as a guest speaker, and she was gracious, lovely, fierce, and so, so smart. the students loved her. she has left an indelible mark among us, and i was very grateful to have had the chance to meet her.
i am sorry i did not know until now of Rita's passing...i wanted to share with her family that I taught SEARCHING FOR LIFE in every human rights class i've delivered for the past 10 years--I had the privilege of hosting Rita once as a guest speaker, and she was gracious, lovely, fierce, and so, so smart. the students loved her. she has left an indelible mark among us, and i was very grateful to have had the chance to meet her.
My aunt Rita is more present than ever. Her wisdom, the result of a life of study and endless curiosity, and her humility, made her a woman from another world. For me, she represents the most correct, loyal and incorruptible citizen of our globalized planet. A person with whom all of us could ALWAYS count on. As a teacher, as a friend, as a mother, as a sister, as my aunt, as THE grandmother she proudly was, she was ready to help in any matter: health, personal or professional issues, she was skillful to give the best advise. She also represents a mixture of cultures: the culture of work and efficientcy, the culture of kindness, tolerance and compassion for other cultures, the culture of finding out about our roots and about our identities, and for me, the most important of all, the culture of appreciate our family. As her son Federico said, she is, and she will allways be our moral compass.
My aunt Rita is more present than ever. Her wisdom, the result of a life of study and endless curiosity, and her humility, made her a woman from another world. For me, she represents the most correct, loyal and incorruptible citizen of our globalized planet. A person with whom all of us could ALWAYS count on. As a teacher, as a friend, as a mother, as a sister, as my aunt, as THE grandmother she proudly was, she was ready to help in any matter: health, personal or professional issues, she was skillful to give the best advise. She also represents a mixture of cultures: the culture of work and efficientcy, the culture of kindness, tolerance and compassion for other cultures, the culture of finding out about our roots and about our identities, and for me, the most important of all, the culture of appreciate our family. As her son Federico said, she is, and she will allways be our moral compass.
In reply to <p>My aunt Rita is more by Betina Benveniste
beautiful....abrazos. federico
In reply to <p>My aunt Rita is more by Betina Benveniste
beautiful....abrazos. federico
I have been lucky enough to know Rita's sister Alicia for nearly 25 years; I am sorry I only met Rita once or twice. The Arditti women are pioneers in their own paths! What a beautifully written memorial.
I have been lucky enough to know Rita's sister Alicia for nearly 25 years; I am sorry I only met Rita once or twice. The Arditti women are pioneers in their own paths! What a beautifully written memorial.
What a privilege it was to know Rita Arditti! RB
What a privilege it was to know Rita Arditti! RB