Glenda A. “Rusty” Belote

Glenda A. “Rusty” Belote, 87, of Ocala, Florida, passed away on May 14, 2026, at the E.W. & Lucille Cates House. Born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 1, 1938, Rusty was the daughter of Richard and Virginia Carpenter Belote. She grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cooley High School in 1956 before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University in 1960, with a double major in English and History and a minor in Sociology.

Rusty lived a life defined by curiosity, courage, independence, and purpose. After college, she moved to San Diego to teach English. In 1962, she boarded the SS United States and sailed to Germany, where she spent four months living in Heidelberg. She returned to Michigan, became certified to teach English and History, and later earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Michigan State University. Her doctoral dissertation, “The Role of the College President’s Wife,” reflected one of the central commitments of her life: advancing women’s leadership, equity, and opportunity.

Professionally, Rusty devoted her career to higher education and student life. She worked at Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Marshall University in Minnesota, The Ohio State University, and Florida International University. She served in leadership roles in student affairs, residence life, counseling, women’s services, and undergraduate studies, and became especially known for her work in residential life and student development. Throughout her career, she also taught courses in women’s studies and feminism, helping to create space for academic conversations that were still emerging on many campuses.

At Ohio State, she led the Women’s Services Office and helped bring important women’s voices and programs to campus, including work in rape education and women’s studies. At Florida International University, she served as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and later as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.
She was also a key figure in the development of women’s and queer studies at Florida International University. In 1996, she published The Freshman Year: Making the Most of College. She retired from Florida International University in 2006.

Rusty was a feminist before the feminist movement was widely recognized nationally. She was a founding member of the Michigan Women’s Political Caucus and spent her life advocating for women—in classrooms, on campuses, and in the broader community. She also established the Belote Graduate Assistantships in the College of Social Science at Michigan State University, extending her commitment to higher education
and graduate student support.

After retiring to Ocala, Rusty remained active, engaged, and generous with her time. She was a member of the Ocala Golf Club, volunteered at the Marion County Democratic Headquarters, volunteered at the Marion County Public Library, and served on the Board of Directors of the Ocala Civic Theatre. She also volunteered at the theatre as a house manager, usher, and wherever help was needed. In 2018, she received the Michael Hewett Memorial Award for volunteer service.

Rusty loved golf, sailing, animals, books, classic movies, theater, and travel. She traveled around the country volunteering at golf tournaments, including the Jack Nicklaus Memorial Tournament, the U.S. Women’s Open, and the Solheim Cup. She also loved sailing and, for many years, co-owned a sailboat, Tinkertoy, with close friends on Lake Erie and in the Florida Keys. She captained many rental sailboats—and even a houseboat—on adventures throughout the Great Lakes, Florida, and the Caribbean. She was an avid reader, especially of mystery novels, and had an extraordinary collection of buttons, many carrying feminist slogans from the 1960s and 1970s. Over the years, she loved many pets, including cats Nelson, Nitter, Dizzy,
Dingbat, Booboo, and Bogart, and dogs Sweetie Pie, Andrew, Duffy, and Ryan.

Rusty was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Virginia Belote; her sister, Gloria Jane Belote Corl; and her brother, Frank William Belote. She is survived by her nieces, Heather Koral of Paw Paw, Michigan; Melissa Belote of Asheboro, North Carolina; Tracy (Belote) Janowiak of Ludington, Michigan; and Susan Belote of Washington, D.C., along with friends, former colleagues, students, and community members whose lives were touched by her intelligence, humor, generosity, and conviction.

A celebration of Rusty’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Michigan State University in memory of Glenda A. Belote, allocated to the Belote Graduate Assistantships fund. Gifts may be mailed to Michigan State University, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Memorial or tribute gifts may also be made online at givingto.msu.edu/gift/.