91ÖÆÆ¬³§

Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Remembering Susan Stamberg, one of 91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s Founding Mothers

Susan Stamberg, one of 91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s "founding mothers," died on Thursday at the age of 87.
Jay Kernis
/
91ÖÆÆ¬³§
Susan Stamberg, one of 91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s "founding mothers," died on Thursday at the age of 87.

Listen to 91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s special report celebrating Susan Stamberg's career by hitting the play button above.

91ÖÆÆ¬³§ 'founding mother' Susan Stamberg has died at the age of 87. Colleagues saw her as a yenta, a mentor and a storyteller who was always tough and true to herself. 91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s David Folkenflik :

Susan Stamberg joined 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ at its start, originally to cut tape — literal tape, with a single-sided blade — at a time when commercial networks almost never hired women.

Stamberg said 91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s first program director, Bill Siemering, was brave to put her behind the microphone. She hosted All Things Considered and Weekend Edition, and then became a special correspondent.

She found joy in the creativity of culture, the spark of science and even the humanity in politics.

To this day, Susan Stamberg's recorded voice announces each floor on the elevators at 91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Copyright 2025 91ÖÆÆ¬³§

Susan Stamberg (back second from right) sits with the All Things Considered team.
Art Silverman / 91ÖÆÆ¬³§
/
91ÖÆÆ¬³§
Susan Stamberg (back second from right) sits with the All Things Considered team.
Susan Stamberg was featured on CBS' 60 Minutes on June 4, 1995.
Jay Kernis / 91ÖÆÆ¬³§
/
91ÖÆÆ¬³§
Susan Stamberg was featured on CBS' 60 Minutes on June 4, 1995.
Carl Kasell talks with Susan Stamberg (right) and Linda Wertheimer after delivering his last newscast at 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ on Dec. 30, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
/
Getty Images
Carl Kasell talks with Susan Stamberg (right) and Linda Wertheimer after delivering his last newscast at 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ on Dec. 30, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
Founding producer of Morning Edition and Weekend Edition Jay Kernis (left) sits with Susan Stamberg in the mid-1970s at a staff party.
Jay Kernis / 91ÖÆÆ¬³§
/
91ÖÆÆ¬³§
Founding producer of Morning Edition and Weekend Edition Jay Kernis (left) sits with Susan Stamberg in the mid-1970s at a staff party.
Susan Stamberg and her son, Josh Stamberg, attend the ceremony honoring her with a star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on March 3, 2020 in Hollywood, Calif.
Amy Sussman / Getty Images
/
Getty Images
Susan Stamberg and her son, Josh Stamberg, attend the ceremony honoring her with a star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on March 3, 2020 in Hollywood, Calif.
Sam Waterston (left), 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ "founding mothers" Susan Stamberg and Linda Wertheimer pose for a photo at the 32nd Annual American Women in Radio & Television Gracie Allen Awards in 2007.
L. Busacca/WireImage / Getty Images
/
Getty Images
Sam Waterston (left), 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ "founding mothers" Susan Stamberg and Linda Wertheimer pose for a photo at the 32nd Annual American Women in Radio & Television Gracie Allen Awards in 2007.
91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s Susan Stamberg (second from left) and Bob Edwards rehearse their parts in a radio drama with actors Ed Asner and Anne Meara. The radio play, "I'd Rather Eat Pants," was broadcast on 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ in 2002.
Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag / Getty Images
/
Getty Images
91ÖÆÆ¬³§'s Susan Stamberg (second from left) and Bob Edwards rehearse their parts in a radio drama with actors Ed Asner and Anne Meara. The radio play, "I'd Rather Eat Pants," was broadcast on 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ in 2002.
Susan Stamberg at her birthday party in Maryland.
Jay Kernis / 91ÖÆÆ¬³§
/
91ÖÆÆ¬³§
Susan Stamberg at her birthday party in Maryland.
Susan Stamberg (center) takes a break with the All Things Considered team.
Art Silverman / 91ÖÆÆ¬³§
/
91ÖÆÆ¬³§
Susan Stamberg (center) takes a break with the All Things Considered team.
Susan Stamberg was a longtime special correspondent in search of sound-rich stories about culture.
Art Silverman / 91ÖÆÆ¬³§
/
91ÖÆÆ¬³§
Susan Stamberg was a longtime special correspondent in search of sound-rich stories about culture.