Obituaries
José Fajardo, former Hawai‘i Public Radio leader, dies at 61
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“José was an inspirational force in so many ways,” said HPR CEO Meredith Artley.
Obituaries
John Wilson, former chief programmer for PBS and SVP for WETA, dies at 62
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Wilson had “a singular focus on storytelling and the importance of public media,” said filmmaker Ken Burns.
Obituaries
Bill Matthews, former fundraiser and KTEH station manager, dies at 72
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Matthews won multiple PBS auction and fundraising awards and built one of the country’s most successful on-air auctions.
Obituaries
Michael Titterton, longtime leader of Hawai‘i Public Radio, dies at 76
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Titterton built a statewide network of transmitters and translators at HPR, where he was also well known for his performances of joyful exuberance during live pledge drives.
Obituaries
Wisconsin Public Media’s Heather Reese dies at 50
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Reese was a vocal supporter of the Wisconsin Idea — the belief that the University of Wisconsin’s public service in education extends beyond the classroom.
Obituaries
Ralph Jennings, GM who guided WFUV’s growth as an NPR music station, dies at 86
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“All of us who love WFUV owe Ralph our gratitude,” said GM Chuck Singleton.
Obituaries
Tammy Robinson, former exec for WNET and WETA, dies at 77
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Robinson’s highest post in public media was VP of national programming for the WNET Group.
Obituaries
Marcia Killingsworth, GPB publicist for two decades, dies at 69
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After retiring from Atlanta’s WABE in 2008, Killingsworth pursued her interests in journalism.
Obituaries
Radio producer Ben Manilla dies at 71
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“No one knew more about radio and audio programming and entertainment than Ben Manilla,” said actor Dan Ackroyd.
Obituaries
Michael Ziegler, station exec who guided WSKG through digital transition, dies at 85
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Ziegler’s public media career included a decade as COO of WITF in Harrisburg, Pa., and a guest appearance on the PBS Kids show “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?”
Obituaries
George Walker, WFIU classical music host for more than 50 years, dies at 81
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Walker’s career in radio broadcasting may have set a record for continuous tenure at one station, according to colleagues.
Obituaries
John Lansing, former CEO of NPR, dies at 67
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Lansing, who steered NPR through the pandemic, retired earlier this year.
Obituaries
NPR correspondent Ina Jaffe dies at 75
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Jaffe, a former actor, reported for NPR from 1985 to 2022.
Obituaries
Pat Callahan, development exec with ‘peerless fundraising acumen,’ dies at 81
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Callahan, who directed membership fundraising at five PBS stations and helped lead adoption of development software tools, retired from AZPM in 2023.
Obituaries
Russell Morash, ‘This Old House’ creator and ‘Father of How-To’ programs that inspired millions, dies at 88
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While Morash wasn’t always fond of the “Father of How-To” moniker, his track record of marquee programs like “This Old House” and “The Victory Garden” cemented his place as a media innovator.
Obituaries
George Boosey, programmer who guided WBUR’s news expansion, dies at 77
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Boosey helped set the Boston station’s path to growth as an NPR news powerhouse.
Obituaries
David Freedman, former GM of WWOZ, dies at 80
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During Freedman’s quarter-century with WWOZ, it transformed from a small station with uncertain finances into an internationally known institution representing New Orleans music and culture.
Obituaries
Jac Venza, founder of public TV’s ‘Great Performances,’ dies at 97
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Venza founded the series in 1972 and retired from public media in 2004.
Obituaries
RRC President Joanne Church dies at 75
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With her late husband Tom, Joanne Church “introduced audience research to public radio” by founding RRC in 1981.
Obituaries
Larry Bensky, correspondent and anchor for KPFA and Pacifica, dies at 87
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“Larry’s brand of journalism — personality along with in-depth reporting — was a model for countless reporters and hosts coming up in the early days of community radio,” says Youth Radio founder Ellin O’Leary.