Elizabeth Brewer Roden
Sept. 30, 1923-Feb. 7, 2019
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Erica Sofrina

Elizabeth Bushnell Brewer Roden, Beloved mother, grandmother, educator, playwright, actress and woman activist passed away on February 7th, 2019. She is survived by her children Andrew, Bridget and Erica and grandchildren Caitlin, Xavier, August and Erin and step-children Debbie and Kirk.

Born in Whittier, California, at the age of 5, Elizabeth was dancing on stage with RKO Pantages and Meglain Kiddie Theaters in Los Angeles with Shirley Temple. At the age of 15 she had acting parts for Lux Radio Theater and Max Reinhardt’s Theater in Hollywood, including “Corless Archer” and “Red Rider Shows”. She left Hollywood when she married Marine Pilot George W. Brewer with whom she had five children. For the next 20 years the family moved frequently but Elizabeth (Betsy) found ways to become actively involved in local radio and television, writing scripts for children’s stories. By the 1960s she had an MA in English and became chair of the English Department at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. These were exciting years to teach in an inner-city college. She was invited to participate as a communications consultant in the emerging field of training and developing the Federal, State and local government workforce. This opportunity led to Betsy’s increased interest in women’s rights and the plight of women throughout history and earned her a position with Stanford University’s Center for Research on Women and Gender C.R.O.W. Where she participated as an honorary scholar for many years. With her second husband, Chris Roden, she moved to Palo Alto where they lived for 25 years, during which time she emerged as a playwright with an impressive series of works about unsung women artists. The “Daughters of Erin” (with Carolyn Meyers), the first play she sold in 1983, explored the life of Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne, while a later work, “Monteagle”, centered around writer Jeanne Stafford and her violent marriage to poet Robert Lowell. Later writing included: “Picturing Dorothea” about photographer Dorothea Lange; “Insides Out”, about a woman’s cancer journey; and story credit for “JANE”, a feature film with longtime collaborator Deborah Allen. Her last play “Dorothea” had many successful productions and iterations. The screenplay was never finished. With Chris’s death in 2006 Betsy’s health diminished. Her last years were in an assisted living facility on the beautiful California coast near Half Moon Bay. With her passing Betsy joins her parents, first husband George, her two daughters Linny and Judith, and second husband Chris. May we honor her creative spirit, her humor, curiosity, literate mind and wild woman heart.

Tags: arts/media, teacher/educator