Sylvia Roth

Sylvia Roth was born on February 9, 1926, to Eugene and Lillian Rothbaum in Chicago, IL. She died in her home on June 19, 2024, and is survived by her brother, Don Rothbaum. Sylvia loved music, flying and dogs.

After studying music at the University of Michigan, Sylvia taught trumpet and piano at the Chicago School of Music and then opened her own teaching studio. She became a member of The Goldfish Club when on January 20, 1946 while returning with the Sharon Rogers Band after entertaining our troops in USO’s across Japan, the C-47 carrying the band encountered a violent storm which caused the plane to drop 3500 feet and ultimately went down in the Sea of Japan. Fortunately, some Japanese fishermen saw their raft and rescued them. Sylvia became an official member of the “Goldfish Club” by escaping death through the use of emergency dinghy or life jacket.

Sylvia began flying, her second love, in 1944 and earned her private pilot’s license in 1950, along with her commercial and Flight Instructor’s rating and started teaching flight training in 1951. By 1952 she changed careers from music to flying. In 1957 she became chief Pilot for the President of Encyclopedia Britannica. In 1958 she began administering flight exams and personally administered 785 flight exams. In 1968 she became the first woman to be a FAA Airline Transport Pilot Examiner. In 1964 she began Miller Aviation with longtime friend Frances Miller. Sylvia was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1993.

After retiring from Miller Aviation in 1986, Sylvia moved to Mount Pleasant, SC. She loved dogs and was rarely without one. She and Frances enjoyed sailing and playing golf at Snee Farm Country Club and of course a midday glass of Merlot.

A special thanks to all the caregivers and in-home health professionals that made it possible for Sylvia to remain at home as she wished.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road, North Charleston, SC 29406.   http://www.charlestonanimalsociety.org.