Art historian, fragrance aficionado, and animal lover Mitali Jones Routh died at home on the morning of June 8th, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. She was 47 years old.

Mitali was born in Princeton, New Jersey on February 14th, 1979 to Shakti and Freda Routh. Raised in Ringoes, New Jersey, Mitali attended the Princeton Day School as a child where she steeped herself in the arts, which served as the foundation for her life. In addition to studying poetry, photography, music, and theatre, Mitali also attended the Princeton Ballet school from ages 4 to 17. During this time, she performed as a member of the school’s pre-professional company.

After studying fashion photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology, she attended Oberlin College, where she earned a B.A. with Honors in Art History and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies in 2003. A lifelong scholar, Mitali went on to complete her doctorate in Art History from Duke University in 2015, specializing in contemporary art and critical theory in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with a focus on sculpture, performance, and film.

In July of 2023, Mitali suffered a major stroke, and several months later she was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative condition, hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD), caused by her initial stroke. Her body and abilities were severely impacted by the stroke, yet in the face of such devastating adversity, her determination never wavered, and her curiosity for life was never dampened. Despite her condition continuing to deteriorate as time went on, her essence and fortitude remained steady. Mitali navigated the challenges placed in front of her with both steadfast resilience and an unfailing sense of humor.

Mitali was an independent, loving, creative, and strong-willed person; one who cared deeply for others and found beauty in all things. Endlessly curious, she never hesitated to dive deep into research on any topic that sparked her interest. Even in her final days, Mitali expressed that there was so much in this world that she wished to learn, music yet to be heard, films to be seen, and books to be read.

Mitali’s life was complex and layered, and she never allowed herself to be reduced to a single narrative. She could hold grief and joy in the same breath, and she showed others it was possible to live truthfully in the midst of both. Nothing she did was ever without intention, and it is especially poignant that she passed away on National Best Friend’s Day. Mitali, a name that means “a good friend,” is a reflection of who she was throughout her life.

Mitali is predeceased by her father Shakti Routh of Ringoes, New Jersey and Tucson, Arizona and her cat Marcel of Durham, North Carolina who died one month before Mitali.

She is survived by her mother Freda Jones Routh and her sister Sumona Routh; Uncle Dr. Bishnu J Rauth (wife Nila); Aunt Ruth Kidd (Burton); Uncle Nolan Jones (Cindy); Uncle Gaylord Jones (Mellany); her beloved Cousin Ashish Ghosh; and numerous other cousins

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please considering donating to Triangle Mutual Aid and the Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration Association, organizations that provided support and resources for Mitali after her stroke. Lastly, as Mitali expressed in her final message to her community, “don’t put things off -- live your life now”.