Rene Engel

Host of Citybilly on KCRW

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I remember Ruth from the time of David’s death. I was touched by her devotion, and recall the deep impact David's passing had on her. I remember being told that he died in her arms.

Ruth was resolutely committed to making good radio. She created a model for all future radio. The identity and aesthetic she created at KCRW was widely admired, the envy and aspiration of everyone in broadcasting.

Ruth valued loyalty above everything else. She flinched when she learned I was going to KPCC. She thought KCSN was the logical destination and assumed I was going there.

I remember her relationship with Will. I watched them closely after leaving KCRW and throughout the rest of my radio career.

Phil Handler commented when hiring me as general manager: "I want you to do for KCSN what Ruth did for KCRW."

Ruth believed every radio station should "sing their own song." Create their own distinct identity. She decried the homogenization of the industry; multiple stations owned by the same entity (networks), cookie cutter programming identical across America, diminishing creativity. Ruth considered broadcasting a calling, an art form. Creativity was the paramount goal.

Although most everyone believed (thought) Ruth and I had a contentious (problematic) relationship, that was never the case. The absolute first thing I did when I got hired as General Manager at KCSN was to call her. We immediately went to lunch, where Ruth held court for 3 hours on how to be an effective GM! She "guided" me through all the issues I would be dealing with and encounter. Without her counsel at that lunch, I could never have done the job. She taught me to never take “no” for an answer, to stand up for my radio station and make friends in Washington. Representative Buck McKeon became a friend and protector to the station, as was Mike Antonovich, both elected leaders with whom I didn't have any political perspectives in common.

When we started attending California Public Radio retreats as colleagues, Ruth would behave like a schoolgirl, writing me notes during the meetings, giggling and nudging me to whisper in my ear (invariably something nasty about the other GMs in the room). At that time, Ruth actually told me that I ran the best radio station in Los Angeles. She was really impressed by what I had done with KCSN.

Ruth was really proud of any alumni who went on to careers in broadcasting.