Susan Stamberg

NPR Special Correspondent and Founding Mother, first female host of a national news broadcast 

Ruth is one of the great pioneers of public radio—at her station as well as in the NPR firmament.

She was enormously influential in our earliest days, and remained so for decades. Never feared to express her opinion, no matter how tough it was. That was one of my most admired aspects of her. Personally, I always thought hard, and learned much from her criticisms. Her taste – the people she put on the air—and her passion for radio were unmatched.

My favorite mental image of Ruth was during the first war in Iraq. She put on a radiothon to raise money to send NPR correspondents to cover it (the great Anne Garrels and others). And to make her on-air pitches, she wore camouflage and combat boots! She knew it would be war to raise the funds, and she dressed for the challenge.

I loved and admired her enormously, and found her to be a great teacher and inspirer.

At this point in my career, if I ever retire (never!) I want to go to the Shady Radio Rest Home where we all sit around on the porch in rocking chairs telling tales of our great adventures. When it’s meal time, an ON AIR LIGHT goes on over the door, and we truck into the dining room and keep the stories coming. 

There’s always a seat at the table for Ruth. (she probably raised money for the seat, too!).

Rest in brilliant, lively, creative, opinionated peace, dear colleague.