Susan Stamberg: Difference between revisions

 

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”’Susan Stamberg”’ (September 7, 1938 – October 16, 2025) was an American radio journalist. She was co-host of [[NPR]]’s flagship program ”[[All Things Considered]]” from 1972 to 1986. In that role Stamberg was the first female host of a national news broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Janssen|first=Mike|title=”Made Possible By…” #4: NPR ‘Founding Mother’ Susan Stamberg|url=https://current.org/2017/11/made-possible-by-4-npr-founding-mother-susan-stamberg/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Current|date=28 November 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> She was considered one of NPR’s “Founding Mothers”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Free Expression Awards |url=https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/free-expression-awards/ |access-date=2020-08-02 |website=Freedom Forum Institute |language=en-US}}</ref> along with [[Nina Totenberg]], [[Linda Wertheimer]] and [[Cokie Roberts]]. She worked for NPR in a variety of roles, including as a special correspondent, until her retirement in 2025.

”’Susan Stamberg”’ (September 7, 1938 – October 16, 2025) was an American radio journalist. She was co-host of [[NPR]]’s flagship program ”[[All Things Considered]]” from 1972 to 1986. In that role Stamberg was the first female host of a national news broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Janssen|first=Mike|title=”Made Possible By…” #4: NPR ‘Founding Mother’ Susan Stamberg|url=https://current.org/2017/11/made-possible-by-4-npr-founding-mother-susan-stamberg/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Current|date=28 November 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> She was considered one of NPR’s “Founding Mothers”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Free Expression Awards |url=https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/free-expression-awards/ |access-date=2020-08-02 |website=Freedom Forum Institute |language=en-US}}</ref> along with [[Nina Totenberg]], [[Linda Wertheimer]] and [[Cokie Roberts]]. She worked for NPR in a variety of roles, including as a special correspondent, until her retirement in 2025.

==Early life==

==Early life==

Susan Stamberg was born ”’Susan Levitt”’ in [[Newark, New Jersey]] on September 7, 1938,<ref>{{Cite book|title=The biographical encyclopedia of American radio|date=2011|publisher=Routledge|others=Sterling, Christopher H., 1943-, O’Dell, Cary, 1968-, Keith, Michael C., 1945-|isbn=9780415995498|edition= Concise and rev. |location=New York|pages=359–361|oclc=528397631}}</ref> her parents’ only child.<ref name=”:0″ /> She grew up and attended school on the [[Upper West Side]] of Manhattan.<ref name=”:0″ /><ref name=”:1″ /> The first in her family to attend college,<ref name=”:0″ /> she graduated from [[Barnard College]] with a degree in English literature<ref name=”:0” /> in 1959.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

Susan Stamberg was born ”’Susan Levitt”’ in [[Newark, New Jersey]] on September 7, 1938<ref>{{Cite book|title=The biographical encyclopedia of American radio|date=2011|publisher=Routledge|others=Sterling, Christopher H., 1943-, O’Dell, Cary, 1968-, Keith, Michael C., 1945-|isbn=9780415995498|edition= Concise and rev. |location=New York|pages=359–361|oclc=528397631}}</ref> only child.<ref name=”:0″ /> She grew up and attended school on the [[Upper West Side]] of Manhattan.<ref name=”:0″ /><ref name=”:1″ /> ]] in <ref name=”:” />

The first in her family to attend college,<ref name=”:0″ /> she first attended [[Queens College, City University of New York|Queens College]]<ref name=”:2″ /> before transferring to [[Barnard College]], from which she graduated with a degree in English literature in 1959.<ref name=”:2″ /><ref name=”:0″ /> After graduating, she took a summer job at the magazine ”[[16 (magazine)|16]]” as a secretary. In fall 1959, she studied English at [[Brandeis University]] for three months before dropping out.<ref name=”:2″ />

==Career==

==Career==

While living in Boston, Stamberg worked as a secretary for ”Doedalus”, a publication of the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]]. It was also in Boston that she met Louis C. Stamberg, whom she later married in 1962. The couple moved to Washington, D.C. after Louis was hired by the [[United States Agency for International Development]].<ref name=”:2″ />

While living in Washington, D.C., Stamberg began working at [[WAMU]], and made her on-air debut when the station’s “weather girl” was ill. She continued to fill in for weather reports on WAMU, sometimes incorporating weather-appropriate poetry to battle the monotony of the job.<ref name=”:0″ />

While living in Washington, D.C., Stamberg began working at [[WAMU]], and made her on-air debut when the station’s “weather girl” was ill. She continued to fill in for weather reports on WAMU, sometimes incorporating weather-appropriate poetry to battle the monotony of the job.<ref name=”:0″ />

When her husband, Louis Stamberg, was working in India for two years, Stamberg worked for the American ambassador’s wife and wrote stories for [[Voice of America]].<ref name=”:0″ />

When her husband was working in for two years, Stamberg worked for the American ambassador’s wife and wrote stories for [[Voice of America]].<ref name=”:0″ />

Stamberg retired on September 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 August 2025 |title=Susan Stamberg, iconic NPR voice and broadcast journalism legend, is retiring |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2025/08/12/g-s1-82210/susan-stamberg-retirement-news |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stamberg |first1=Susan |date=2 September 2025 |title=NPR founding mother Susan Stamberg reflects on her career and favorite memories |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/09/02/nx-s1-5513991/npr-founding-mother-susan-stamberg-reflects-on-her-career-and-favorite-memories |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

Stamberg retired on September 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 August 2025 |title=Susan Stamberg, iconic NPR voice and broadcast journalism legend, is retiring |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2025/08/12/g-s1-82210/susan-stamberg-retirement-news |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stamberg |first1=Susan |date=2 September 2025 |title=NPR founding mother Susan Stamberg reflects on her career and favorite memories |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/09/02/nx-s1-5513991/npr-founding-mother-susan-stamberg-reflects-on-her-career-and-favorite-memories |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

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==Personal life and death==

==Personal life and death==

Stamberg was married to Louis C. Stamberg, who died on October 9, 2007. During a career with the [[United States Agency for International Development|Agency for International Development]] Louis Stamberg worked as a program officer and spent more than two years at the USAID mission in New Delhi.<ref>Sullivan, Patricia (October 10, 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20121103094704/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902166.html “Obituaries”]. ”[[The Washington Post]]”. p. B8.</ref> Stamberg was the mother of actor [[Josh Stamberg]]. She was [[American Jews|Jewish]].<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite web |title=Susan Stamberg |url=https://jwa.org/exhibits/dc/stamberg-susan |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Jewish Women’s Archive |language=en}}</ref> She was a distant cousin to ”All Things Considered” host [[Ari Shapiro]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Obama To Graduates: Listen To Opposing Views|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126442653|access-date=2020-08-02|website=NPR.org| date=May 2010 |language=en}}</ref>

Stamberg was married to Louis C. Stamberg, who died on October 9, 2007.<ref :” /> Stamberg was the mother of actor [[Josh Stamberg]]. She was [[American Jews|Jewish]].<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite web |title=Susan Stamberg |url=https://jwa.org/exhibits/dc/stamberg-susan |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Jewish Women’s Archive |language=en}}</ref> She was a distant cousin to ”All Things Considered” host [[Ari Shapiro]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Obama To Graduates: Listen To Opposing Views|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126442653|access-date=2020-08-02|website=NPR.org| date=May 2010 |language=en}}</ref>

Stamberg died on October 16, 2025, at the age of 87.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=2025-10-16 |title=NPR ‘founding mother’ Susan Stamberg has died |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/10/16/1184880448/susan-stamberg-obituary |access-date=2025-10-16 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

Stamberg died on October 16, 2025, at the age of 87.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=2025-10-16 |title=NPR ‘founding mother’ Susan Stamberg has died |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/10/16/1184880448/susan-stamberg-obituary |access-date=2025-10-16 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

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[[Category:21st-century American women journalists]]

[[Category:21st-century American women journalists]]

[[Category:American broadcast news analysts]]

[[Category:American broadcast news analysts]]

[[Category:American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent]]

[[Category:American radio journalists]]

[[Category:American radio journalists]]

[[Category:American reporters and correspondents]]

[[Category:American reporters and correspondents]]

American radio journalist (1938–2025)

Susan Stamberg (September 7, 1938 – October 16, 2025) was an American radio journalist. She was co-host of NPR‘s flagship program All Things Considered from 1972 to 1986. In that role Stamberg was the first female host of a national news broadcast.^[1] She was considered one of NPR’s “Founding Mothers”^[2] along with Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer and Cokie Roberts. She worked for NPR in a variety of roles, including as a special correspondent, until her retirement in 2025.

Susan Stamberg was born Susan Levitt in Newark, New Jersey on September 7, 1938.^[3] She was the only child to parents both of Lithuanian-Jewish descent.^[4][5] She grew up and attended school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.^[5][6] She attended the High School of Music & Art in Hamilton Heights, graduating in 1955.^[4]

The first in her family to attend college,^[5] she first attended Queens College^[4] before transferring to Barnard College, from which she graduated with a degree in English literature in 1959.^[4][5] After graduating, she took a summer job at the magazine 16 as a secretary. In fall 1959, she studied English at Brandeis University for three months before dropping out.^[4]

While living in Boston, Stamberg worked as a secretary for Doedalus, a publication of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. It was also in Boston that she met Louis C. Stamberg, whom she later married in 1962. The couple moved to Washington, D.C. after Louis was hired by the United States Agency for International Development.^[4]

While living in Washington, D.C., Stamberg began working at WAMU, and made her on-air debut when the station’s “weather girl” was ill. She continued to fill in for weather reports on WAMU, sometimes incorporating weather-appropriate poetry to battle the monotony of the job.^[5]

When her husband was working in New Delhi for two years,^[7] Stamberg worked for the American ambassador’s wife and wrote stories for Voice of America.^[5]

Stamberg retired on September 1, 2025.^[8][9]

Stamberg was hired by NPR prior to their broadcast debut. Her first job there was cutting audiotape. She and Linda Wertheimer shared an office, after insisting they have their own space. Stamberg went on to become a producer of All Things Considered, the evening news magazine.^[5]

For 14 years, beginning in 1972, Stamberg served as co-host of All Things Considered. She was the first woman to hold a full-time position as anchor of a national nightly news broadcast in the United States. In addition to the difficulties of being a woman in radio, she was also criticized by some NPR board members for being “too New York” (Stamberg was noted for having a strong New York accent).^[5]

She was the host of Weekend Edition Sunday from 1987 to 1989. In her first year with the program, she introduced the Sunday puzzle and invited the hosts of Car Talk to have their own segment.^[5]

Stamberg interviewed Fred Rogers several times as host of All Things Considered. In the 1980s, Stamberg and Rogers recorded several television specials.^[10]

Stamberg, who found politics “the most boring thing imaginable”, preferred to report on cultural news “with a seriousness of purpose”. In her reporting about Elia Kazan‘s 1988 memoir, for example, she led with his controversial 1952 testimony in the House Un-American Activities Committee.^[5] In her coverage, she liked to highlight workers behind-the-scenes of the year’s nominated films.^[5]

One of her most memorable interviews was with Nobel Prize–winning economist Milton Friedman. Stamberg argued with Friedman over the merits of the free market, claiming her conversations with “Russian cabbies” on the streets of New York had shown that the expatriates preferred life in the former Communist country to “how dreadfully tough their lives are here (the United States).” Friedman dismissed Stamberg’s observation, contending, “I’m saying if you really want to know what they really believe about the relative merits of the two systems, see what they do, not what they say. And what they do is to stay here. They don’t go back.”^[11]

A recording of Stamberg’s voice is used to announce elevator floor arrivals at NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.^[5]

Stamberg was the first host of the PBS arts series Alive from Off Center, hosting from 1985 to 1986.

Each Thanksgiving since 1971, Stamberg provided NPR listeners with her mother-in-law’s recipe for a cranberry relish sauce that is unusual in having horseradish as one of its principal ingredients. Each year Stamberg came up with a new way to present the recipe, notably sharing the dish with rapper Coolio in 2010.^[12][13] The recipe is known as Mama Stamberg’s Cranberry Relish Recipe, although it was originally published in 1959 by Craig Claiborne in his food column.^[14]

Stamberg was married to Louis C. Stamberg, who died on October 9, 2007.^[7] Stamberg was the mother of actor Josh Stamberg. She was Jewish.^[6] She was a distant cousin to All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro.^[17]

Stamberg died on October 16, 2025, at the age of 87.^[5]