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Rita Arditti Obituary

Rita Arditti Rita Arditti CAMBRIDGE Rita Arditti died December 25, 2009 after living with metastatic breast cancer for over 30 years. She was 75. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she earned her doctorate in biology at the University of Rome and did lab science for 15 years in Naples, at Brandeis University, and at Harvard Medical School. She then became a university professor, first at Boston University and for the last 30 years of her career at The Union Institute and University working with doctoral learners. A long-term activist, she co-founded New Words Bookstore, the Womens Community Cancer Project, and Science for the People. She co-edited Test Tube Women: What Future for Motherhood, about the new reproductive technologies, and Science and Liberation, about politics and science. Deeply upset by the dictatorship that ruled Argentina in the late 1970s and early 80s, she got involved in the Argentine human rights movement and ultimately studied in-depth the work of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo as they searched for their missing grandchildren. Searching for Life: The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo and the Disappeared Children of Argentina (U California Press, 1999) emerged from that work. One of her favorite sayings came from the human rights movement in Argentina: La nica lucha que se pierde es la que se abandona. The only struggle that is lost is the one that is abandoned. Always excited by new learning, Rita dove into U.S. history in recent years. She suggested that every new immigrant be given a copy of All On Fire: William Lloyd Garrison and the Abolition of Slavery by Henry Mayer. She leaves many loved ones including her life partner of 29 years, Estelle Disch of Cambridge; her son Federico Muchnik of Watertown; her daughter-in-law Naima Benali of Cambridge; her granddaughter Layla Muchnik Benali of Cambridge; her sisters Alicia Arditti and Edith Benveniste of Buenos Aires; her brother-in-law Robert Disch of New York City; and her sister-in-law Sylvia Scofield of New York City. Donations in Rita's memory will be welcomed by Breast Cancer Action, 55 New Montgomery St. Suite 323, San Francisco, CA 94105 (www.bcaction.org) or the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, P.O. Box 1449, New York, NY 10159 (www.mbcnetwork.org). For online guestbook, visit www.casperfuneralservices.com.

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Published by The Cambridge Chronicle from Jan. 5 to Jan. 12, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Rita Arditti

Sponsored by anonymous.

19 Entries

March 13, 2019

TRYING TO REACH ALISCIA ARDITTI ~ IF ANYONE CAN HELP WITH THIS PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE TO ME AT
[email protected]
Or through Facebook and leave me a message.

I am writing this on the behalf of her friend Vivien from Miami

Ann Abrams

January 25, 2010

I was very sad to read in yesterday's Boston Globe that Rita had died. I have fond memories of her at New Words events, and if I saw any article on any subject written by her, I would make a point of reading it. Many years ago, I brought my mother, who also fought cancer for many years, to a meeting of the Women's Community Cancer Project at the Women's Center, in Cambridge, and we both learned a lot, and benefited from this meeting. Rita's life was an inspiration. May her memory be a blessing.

January 22, 2010

My first encounter with Rita was at a conference in Boston in the early 80's. She spoke about reproductive technologies. I still remember her talk as one of the very
strongest I've ever heard. At a time when I found some feminist speakers sticking to a tired party line, I found Rita's talk intellectually and morally fresh and rigorous. And as a small, Jewish woman myself, I was inspired by how powerful her voice was.
Though I never got to know her well, I always enjoyed seeing her on the street or at events. She always recognized me and greeted me warmly. In her I saw a spirited, vital, committed, passionate lover of life and people. She will be missed by many.
Sincerely,
Leslie Lawrence

January 16, 2010

I feel blessed to have known Rita, and am deeply saddened by her passing. My condolences to her sisters Edith and Alicia, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting in Buenos Aires, and to her loving partner Estelle.
Rita's life was a light to humanity, and a source of pride to Sephardic people everywhere.
Rachel Amado Bortnick
Dallas

Barbara and Jon Beckwith

January 16, 2010

Federico: Jon and I are so sorry that Rita has died. We were closem for many years: conversation was never dull and raising "you kids" was fun when we got together. I have some nice snapshots of those times.

Rita's co-founding of New Words was so important to the women's movement, and her book on the children of Argentina's disappeared reached people who might not otherwise have known about that terrible (and, in terms of persistent political action, wonderful) reality. I'm glad that Rita has passed on her commitment to justice -- and her smile -- to you.

and from Jon: Thinking of Rita stirs up so many memories. When I first met her in Naples: she made such a strong impression on me, a positive impression that fed my love for Naples itself for the many years since. I remember Rita from Naples as an ebullient, ever-so-friendly person. Then, from time to time I come across pictures we have of you, Paolo, Rita and our family on a trip to Cape Cod. We did so many things together during that period in the late sixties with all of you, John Scaife and others. Importantly, when Rita joined my lab she became my political tutor. I was pretty naive at that time and, she may not have known it, but I feel that for years after she left the lab, much of what I understood politically came from talking with her. I admired so much what she did throughout her lifetime as an activist, certainly a model for me and others.

Edith benveniste

January 7, 2010

Desde de Buenos Aires tu hermana Edith, triste te lleva en su corazon para siempre .

Edith Benveniste

January 7, 2010

Desde de Buenos Aires tu hermana Edith, triste te lleva en su corazon para siempre .

Tatiana Schreiber

January 7, 2010

I am so sad that we have lost Rita! She was a wonderful friend and comrade to me and so many others. I met Rita in a class in interviewing skills, as she was preparing to do her work with the Mothers of the Disappeared. Later, I heard her speak at a rally for breast cancer, where her focus was on the links better breast cancer and environmental contamination. She was so passionate, and clear, and what she said was so important, I went up to her afterward and said "Rita, you must write an article about this!" She enlisted my help, and we wrote the article... that also sent me a long path of my own, researching the science concerning breast cancer and the environment and producing several radio stories on this topic. Rita's work in this area was so profound and important... there's still a long way to go, but she helped move both the activist and scientific communities forward long before others were taking action.

Rita was so generous in her work and in her personal relationships, always urging everyone else on with her love and support. Even though I hadn't seen her in the last few years, I felt her love and energy, and will always feel her inspiration. Thank-you so much Rita!! And thanks to all her family and friends who supported her during her long experience with cancer, and joined her in her critical political work. My condolences to all - but, let us all carry on with the work that meant so much to her!

January 5, 2010

Dear Estelle,
Renee has kept me up over the years. My love to you and the family. Gus Kaufman, Atlanta, GA PS I will be in Boston the end of January for a week to work with Al Pesso developing trauma resources for the Congo. I'd love to see you! GKaufmanJr@aolcom

Kelley Ready

January 5, 2010

I just learned of Rita's passing and am deeply saddened. Rita was a support and inspiration for my work with the Mothers of the Disappeared in El Salvador. Though we were not close, I was always delighted to run into her and chat. I will sorely miss her. My profound condolences to Estelle and the rest of Rita's family.

Roy Fairfield

January 5, 2010

She was a powerful force in the Union Graduate school, faithful to the multicultural cultural objective established three years prior to her joining the faculty which I was then serving as Dean/Coordinator; also she helped with our mission of breaking the male domination of American graduate education. She caught the spirit of person-centered learning and advanced the promotion of those processes. A very pleasant colleague, willing to listen to all sides of any issue and accept the pioneer nature of our work.

Steven Ballou

January 4, 2010

I just received news of Rita's passing. As part of the doctoral program admissions process at Union Institute, I was interviewed by Rita in her home. Unfortunately, the chair she offered me collapsed when I sat down. We had a good laugh! The last time I saw her, she told me: if you want to keep learning, teach. And, so I have... Blessings to you wherever you are in the Divine Universe.

Steve

January 4, 2010

Dr. Arditti was a longtime faculty member at Union Institute & University, headquartered in Cincinnati. She had received emeritus status and was revered by her colleagues and learners. Union president, Dr. Roger Sublett shared the sad news with this note to the Union community:
Dear Union colleagues:
It is with sadness that I pass along sad news that our treasured colleague and faculty emerita, Dr. Rita Arditti, passed away on Christmas day after a long and courageous battle against cancer. She was surrounded by friends and family and died peacefully.

Dr. Arditti spent her entire life working in service to others. Her scholarship was exemplary, and she touched the lives of hundreds of Union graduate learners over her many years of service. Her commitment to the development and empowerment of women was of tremendous importance to her and will remain one of her lasting legacies.

Rita was known internationally for her work in social justice and she was the founder of Science for the People, and the Women's Community Cancer Project, both centered in Boston. Her seminal book, Searching for Life: The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo and the Disappeared Children of Argentina, was published in 1999 and was at the heart of a movement led by a group of grandmothers searching for their loved ones. The grandmothers' work also led to the creation of the National Genetic Data Bank, the only bank of its kind in the world, and to Article 8 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the "right to identity," that is now incorporated in the new adoption legislation in Argentina. Rita’s documentation of their efforts brought attention to the corruption of the Argentine government and was also supporting material for the group’s nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.

I was honored a few years ago to attend the dedication of the Rita Arditti Library at the Art and Drama Therapy Institute in Washington, DC where two Union alumnae honored her for her significant support and encouragement. Rita was thrilled and humbled to be so honored—and all of us present felt honored to be in her presence.

As a longtime core faculty member in the doctoral program, Rita truly made a difference in the lives of her Union learners, and also impacted her fellow faculty and staff members with her grace, intelligence, and dedication to others. All of us who knew Rita were touched by her quest for excellence, her commitment to scholarship, her bright smile, and enthusiasm for life. We will miss her, and we always be thankful that our paths crossed in this brief journey we call life.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to her entire family and colleagues across the years.

In sadness,
Roger H. Sublett, Ph.D.
President

January 3, 2010

Rita was an inspiration, and I know women in WILPF enjoyed her ideas and her spirit. My condolences to her dear friends and family. Sharon Tramer, Newton, MA

Rox Carini

December 29, 2009

Rita fue una bella, bella persona. Gracias Rita por tu amor hacia tanta gente. Siempre te recordaré con ese brillo de luz. Rox Carini

Renee Franco

December 29, 2009

I sent a note on the funeral home guest book but people may not look there. Rita and I met over 30 yrs. ago when I lived in Cambridge for over 8 yrs. We both were thrilled to find another Sephardic Jew and feminists, at that. While my parents were from the Island of Rhodes, my mother happen to be born in Izmir, Turkey where Rita's ancestors lived prior to moving to Argentina. We loved being a twosome saying we were Sephardic Jewish Feminists. In fact, Rita later wrote an article titled something on the order of, "But You Don't Look Jewish." How could names such as Arditti and Franco be Jewish! Each of us in our own way decided to educate everyone we knew, including other Jews. It was great fun and still is to this day for me. I will always cherish Rita and consider it an honor to have known such a fine person. My heart goes out to her sisters, Alicia and Edith, Federico and his family, as well as to her beloved Estelle.

Barbara Brenner

December 29, 2009

My first contact with Rita was a letter she wrote to me when I had a local recurrence of breast cancer in 1996. Because she had had metastatic breast cancer for so long, she wrote to encourage me. I had been the ED of Breast Cancer Action for only a year, and hearing from someone whose work in the cancer field was already legendary warmed my heart.

I met Rita for the first time at a conference in Boston a year or so later, where she introduced herself to me. She stole my heart at that moment, we have stayed connected every since.

I had the privilege to work with Rita on many things and to get to know here as an extraordinary human being. She had both a remarkable mind and a wonderful and generous spirit. I will miss her deeply,

I wish Estelle and all of Rita's family the comfort of knowing that Rita was loved and cherished by so many people, and the time need to heal this very deep loss.

Aren Stone

December 29, 2009

I did not know Rita well. I knew her work, talked with her at community gatherings, said hello. But her warmth, intelligence, and passion for justice always shone in any conversation. A wonderful woman, teacher, cancer warrior. She will be missed. My deepest condolences to Estelle and the rest of Rita's family.

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