Susan Stamberg, NPR journalist, dies at 87

Veteran NPR journalist Susan Stamberg, who became the first woman in the United States to anchor a national evening news show called “All Things Considered,” died Thursday, according to the British newspaper “Daily Mail.” To NPR. She was 87 years old.

Stamberg, who retired just six weeks ago, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been honored by the Radio Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame.

“Susan’s voice was not only a cornerstone of NPR, it was a cornerstone of American life,” NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement to The Washington Post. “She showed that journalism could be both rigorous and deeply personal. She inspired countless journalists to believe that they could explore life and truth, and lead with both authority and warmth.”

Susan Leavitt was born in Newark, New Jersey, graduated from Barnard College and began her career at WAMU Public Radio in Washington, DC.

She joined NPR at its founding in 1971, starting as an audio editor cutting audio tapes with a razor blade, and in 1972 she became co-host of the evening news magazine “All Things Considered.” Stamberg hosted All Things Considered for 14 years in an era when few women had access to top radio and television shows.

Her interviews often focused on the arts or weird stories, rather than straight politics. She was also known for sharing her mother-in-law’s famous cranberry sauce recipe (which includes horseradish) with her listeners.

After “All Things Considered,” Stamberg moved to “Weekend Edition Sunday,” where she helped launch a puzzle segment and invited the brothers who would continue to host “Car Talk” to do a weekly segment of the show. She then became a special correspondent, often focusing on culture stories and occasionally Hollywood.

She is survived by her son, actor Josh Stamberg, and two granddaughters. Her husband, Louis Stamberg, died in 2007.