An Independent Voice

Rebecca Akers ’83 was a writer with a passion for history and freedom

by Marie DeNoia Aronsohn

Rebecca Akers ’83 and her husband, Mark Axinn, had an annual Fourth of July tradition of reading the Declaration of Independence aloud together. The principles outlined in that document align with her deep commitment to individual freedoms, principles that guided much of Akers’ life and especially her writing.

Akers, who died of cancer in April 2022, published articles and opinion pieces in many publications, including The New York Post, Barron’s, and Forbes.com. But mostly she wrote for websites or for periodicals that were consistent with her political philosophy and the Libertarian Party.

“Becky was very much involved with writing in favor of individual responsibility and individual freedom. The sort of live-and-let-live philosophy,” says Axinn, who served as chair of the New York State Libertarian Party from 2010 to 2015.

Akers’ early formative experiences demonstrate the power of her own sense of individual responsibility. Born in Akron, Ohio, on November 6, 1959, the oldest of four children, she was just 18 when her mother died. Akers stepped in to help as caretaker of her younger siblings.

“She dropped out of high school right then and there,” says Axinn. While she had more than enough credits to graduate with her class, Akers decided to put her higher education goals on hold. She took on the work of helping raise her youngest brother, who was just 2 years old. She also set out to earn money for the family, working as a waitress, at a gas station, and at other odd jobs.

Her dream to study ancient Greek and Latin languages and history came true a few years later thanks to a full merit-based scholarship to attend Barnard, where she enrolled in 1979. She continued to work part-time as she studied. Axinn says that when they met, Akers was a sophomore working the overnight shift as a guard at one of the Barnard dorms and managed on a tight budget.

“She told me that she sometimes went to events on the Barnard campus because there would be food. So she would hear the speakers and go because that way she would have a meal for the day. She was broke,” recalls Axinn.

Akers majored in ancient studies to further her understanding of Greek and Latin cultures, and she excelled. “At the time that I met her, she was dreaming in Latin,” says Axinn. “She told me all these stories of the Greek legends and Roman legends.”

After graduating in 1983, Akers went on to work in public relations and advertising, but she also began to write for herself.

Her early fiction was based on the Greek myths she had come to know so well. But it was her fascination with American history that compelled her to write her two novels. She became intrigued by a Revolutionary War figure — America’s first spy, Nathan Hale

Children’s book authors had told the story of the young soldier who stole British Army secrets to help the American fight for independence, but there was no adult historical fiction about Hale. Akers dug into the story, inventing an antagonist to help drive the narrative, then wrote and published Halestorm. Later she wrote and published Abducting Arnold, another historical novel, about Benedict Arnold. “In both novels, she created another fictional character, a nemesis who was the adversary,” explains Axinn.

One can get a sense of the lighter elements of Akers’ character from her online bio: “Becky spends most of her time with notes and keyboards — either a computer’s or piano’s. When clacking away at the latter, she often fears the ghosts of Beethoven and Bach may rise to wreak their vengeance. She’s a better cook than musician and proudly reports, ‘Ain’t no one died from my vittles yet!’”

Akers’ death came just three months after she received a cancer diagnosis. But her voice and convictions remain present in her voluminous published writings and in the mind and heart of Mark Axinn, her partner of four decades. While they never took wedding vows or became spouses in the eyes of the law, Axinn describes Akers as his wife and says that after they met on his birthday in 1981, they never parted. Soon after Akers’ death, Axinn wrote a poignant piece for Columbia College Today describing their time together.

“We had 41 years, one month, and 18 days,” he wrote. “It was not enough. Becky died in the middle of Passover, which she loved; my devoutly Christian wife made the world’s best matzo balls. I will miss Becky every day of my life but also know that she wants me to carry on, which I will do, just not as well.” B