Theodore Roszak *58

Theodore Roszak, professor of history emeritus at California State University, East Bay, who is generally credited with applying the term “counterculture” to the rebellious generation of the 1960s, died July 5, 2011. He was 77, and had been treated for liver cancer.

Roszak earned a bachelor’s from UCLA in 1955, and in 1958 a Ph.D in history from Princeton. Before retiring in 1998, he had taught for 35 years at Cal State.

He came to public prominence in 1969 with the publication of his book, The Making of a Counter Culture, which dealt with the young generation’s revolt against authority. The book argued that modern society was sterile and repressive, and that youthful dissent might offer a foundation for a new and better civilization.

Roszak saw campus rebellion and the civil-rights movement as prospects for a new future. He expanded on these themes in several books that followed. The writer and editor of about 20 books, his preferred form of writing was fiction, and he authored six novels. Roszak felt that the ideals of the baby boomers still would inspire them in their later years.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; a daughter; and a granddaughter.