Rebecca Rosen, who lived in Miami for decades, caring for the homeless and others in need, died Thursday in her Boca Raton home. She was 88.

Over the years, Rosen founded the North Dade Chapter of the Gray Panthers, volunteered for the Community Partnership for Homeless in Miami as a community organizer and a board member, and worked with Camillus House, a shelter for the homeless.

In recognition of Rosen's contributions, the Florida Board of Education named her Humanitarian of the Year in 2000.

''My mom felt compelled to act, and so she really helped and worked hard for the community,'' said her daughter Deborah Boldt. ``She grew up knowing what poverty was, and was very motivated to help other people improve their lives.''

Rosen was born in Baltimore on Nov. 17, 1919. She earned degrees from several schools, including Towson University, the University of Baltimore, Florida International University and the University of Miami.

During World War II, Rosen worked as a Marine Corps clerk, rising to the rank of sergeant. After the war, she married, raised four children and taught elementary school in Baltimore.

She opened a travel agency, Travel Consultants, in Baltimore in 1956.

''At that time, women were only getting married and staying home and having families,'' said Rosen's sister Jeane Stockheim.

``But she didn't do that. She explored.''

Rosen loved to travel, and she went to her ancestral land of Russia, where she delighted in speaking with other Jews in Yiddish.

Shortly before retiring to South Florida in 1980, Rosen accepted a Navy position as an equal-opportunity compliance officer.

After her move, she helped establish a breast cancer clinic for poor women in Miami-Dade County.

In addition to her daughter and sister, Rosen is survived by two other daughters, Nancy Birnbaum and Lauren Rose; a son, Mark Birnbaum; another sister, Sylvia Beser; a brother, Herbert Rosen; and two grandchildren.

A military service is scheduled for Nov. 14 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

The family asks that instead of sending flowers, friends make donations to the Community Partnership for Homeless, 1550 N. Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33136.