Cindy Browne comes to the end of her fight

Cindy Browne, founding head of Iowa Public Radio and longtime exec at Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), died Sunday night, Nov. 9, after a long fight against cancer, according to former colleague Todd Mundt. He wrote in his blog: “Cindy was the most courageous person I ever knew; throughout her life, she confronted change, in her career, in her health, some of it unwelcome, and yet she was a fount of optimism, and maintained a laser-like focus on what she needed to do.” A memorial service will be held Friday, 4-8 p.m., at Holcomb Henry Boom Funeral Home in Shoreview, Minn. Her survivors said memorial contributions can be given to TPT or to Iowa Public Radio. TPT, where Browne worked her way up from receptionist to general manager over 25 years, published an advisory today about her death. After a short stint at CPB, Browne worked as a consultant, advocating an important role for women in management and advised on the skills of change management. Browne took on a substantial task along that line during her last three years — leading the merger of three university stations to create Iowa Public Radio.