Obituary of Rosalind Berlin

Rosalind "Roz" Berlin
Saginaw, Michigan

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and dear friend, Rosalind "Roz" Berlin, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, November 29, 2024, at the age of 86.

Born on September 8, 1938, in Saginaw to the late Kenneth and Agnes (Greenwalt) Mathews, Roz was a true daughter of Michigan, whose profound love for the arts was woven into the very fabric of her life. "I just love the arts...all of them," Roz often said, and her work as one of Michigan’s foremost fiber artists was a testament to this passion.

Roz is best known for creating the Rainbowoven Forest of Environmental Sculpture, a room-sized installation comprising over 400 intricately woven trees that celebrate the magnificence of nature. Each tree, complete with roots and branches, was colored to reflect the vibrant hues of the seasons. As she often described it, the forest was "a joyous celebration of the magnificence of trees and their power to nurture a space for personal growth." The theme of her life’s work was the tree of life itself—a symbol of both her artistic vision and the personal growth she inspired in others.

Roz’s forest installations, which included poetry readings, Shakespeare plays, dance performances, and music, graced institutions such as Midland Center for the Arts, Creative 360, and Saginaw Valley State University. These residencies brought together communities in awe and appreciation of the beauty she created, with the trees standing as enduring symbols of her creative legacy.

In addition to her work as an artist, Roz was a passionate advocate for the arts and wellness. She was instrumental in the founding of Creative 360, where she made a lasting impact both as a supporter and as a beloved artist. Her trees now have a permanent home at Creative 360, where a celebration of her life will take place in June 2025.

Roz led a life of meaning, influence, and artistic devotion. Born as the third child in a family of six, Roz grew up in an environment rich with the arts. Her family, filled with teachers and musicians, exposed her to the worlds of music, literature, theater, and dance from an early age.

She was actively involved in the Saginaw Valley Weaving Guild and was a member of Triad, a performance group that interwove weaving, poetry, and dance. A devoted member of the River Junction Poets, Roz also served as the group’s president. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the River Junction Poets, whose mission of promoting poetry and nurturing students was close to Roz’s heart.

A lifelong fan of Saginaw-born poet Theodore Roethke, Roz participated in reading marathons, where all of Roethke’s poems were read aloud by many, sharing her admiration for the poet and his work. One of her most cherished projects was collecting, editing, and publishing a retrospective of her mother Agnes Mathews’ poetry.

Roz’s creative spirit was also expressed in her involvement in Pit and Balcony Community Theater, where she designed sets and acted. She donated her art to benefit nonprofit organizations and taught art in schools and youth programs.

In 2011, Roz was honored with the All Area Arts Award by the Saginaw Arts and Enrichment Commission, a recognition of her tireless dedication to the arts. In her acceptance speech, she fondly recalled her days as a drum majorette with the Saginaw High School Marching Band.

Roz was also celebrated as one of Michigan’s foremost fiber artists, featured in a book that highlighted her achievements in the field. Throughout her life, she was not only a creator but a teacher—imparting her knowledge and passion for weaving, art, and the creative process to both private and public organizations.

Her love of nature and the outdoors led her to become a member of the National Ski Patrol, and she enjoyed a wide range of activities, including camping, canoeing, swimming, tennis, skating, cycling, horseback riding, photography, yoga, tai chi, dance, and music. Roz’s zest for life and her enthusiasm for sharing these experiences with others were an inspiration to all who knew her.

Roz was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Agnes Mathews; and her sister, Maxine Gleason. She is survived by her loving family, including her son, grandson, siblings, and countless friends and admirers.

A service to celebrate Roz's life will be held in the summer of 2025 at Creative 360 in Midland, where her legacy as a loving mother, grandmother, sister, artist, and advocate will be honored.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, those wishing to express their sympathy are invited to make a donation to Creative 360, an arts and wellness agency that was dear to Roz’s heart.

Arrangements: The Berlin family is being served by Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd, Saginaw, MI 48603. For more information, or to share memories, please visit www.DeislerFuneralHome.com.

Roz’s life was a vibrant tapestry of love, creativity, and commitment to the arts. Her spirit lives on in the art she created, the people she inspired, and the trees that continue to stand as lasting tributes to her incredible legacy.

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