Year Honored: 1986

Birth: 1915 - 2003

Born in: Wilmington

Biography

Roxanna Cannon Arsht became the first female judge in the State of Delaware after 30 years of hard work, fitting for a woman having described herself, as “gutsy, independent, and not afraid to challenge the status quo.” She graduated from Goucher College with a double major in chemistry and mathematics, before attending the University of Pennsylvania Law School as one of only two women in her class. She graduated in 1939 and was the fifth woman to be admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1941, though she was turned down from every law firm in Wilmington.

Instead, Arsht turned to volunteer work and activism. She was a particularly ardent supporter of women’s reproductive rights. Contraception was illegal when Arsht first become involved in the movement. Through her work she helped with the development of the Delaware Office of Planned Parenthood and served as President of the organization from 1954 to 1957.

In 1962, Arsht began volunteering as a master in Delaware’s Family Court. She was appointed judge of the Delaware Family Court by Governor Russel W. Peterson, as the first woman to hold that position, and held the role for 12 years.

Arsht was married to a corporate lawyer, S. Samuel Arsht, Esq., and the couple had two daughters. As a couple, the Arsht’s contributed millions philanthropically to a number of causes. They funded the construction of Arsht Hall, the main building of the University of Delaware’s Academy of Lifelong Learning, and a new exhibition building at Winterthur Museum. Samuel Arsht, before his death of cancer, funded the creation of the Roxana Cannon Arsht Surgicenter, dedicated 60 years to the day of his proposal of marriage to Arsht. In Sam’s memory, Arsht established a professorship at the University of Pennsylvania, and was a founding member of the Cancer Care Connection, along with serving as a trustee of the organization.

Arsht was often heard saying the phrase, “the world does not owe you a living; you have to stand on your own two feet.”

Over the years Arsht was honored with a number of awards, including the University of Delaware Medal of Distinction in 1989, the Trailblazer Award, First State Distinguished Service Award, annual recognition from the National Conference for Community and Justice, the Josiah Marvel Cup, and her and Sam’s joint Penn Law Alumni Award of Merit in 1992.
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Sources and Additional Readings

In Memoriam Roxana C. Arsht. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2004/rarsht100603.html

Penn Law Journal - Spring 2004. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20120926031424/https:/www.law.upenn.edu/alumni/alumnijournal/spring2004/in_memoriam/arsht.html

Roxana Cannon Arsht (1915-2003) - find a grave... Find a Grave. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7954452/roxana-arsht

Roxana Cannon Arsht Obituary (2003) The News Journal. Legacy.com. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/delawareonline/name/roxana-arsht-obituary?pid=145785007

Roxana Cannon Arsht surgicenter. ChristianaCare. (2018, November 28). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://christianacare.org/facilities/arshtsurgicenter/

Roxana Cannon Arsht, Delaware's first female judge. Delaware Today - April 2012 - Delaware. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20160612150243/http:/www.delawaretoday.com/Delaware-Today/April-2012/Roxana-Cannon-Arsht-Delawares-first-female-judge/