Newark Native Susan Stamberg Has Died at 87

Newark-born Susan Stamberg, a broadcast trailblazer who became the first woman to anchor a nightly news program in the United States, died Thursday at the age of 87.

A pioneering voice in public radio, Stamberg helped shape the identity of National Public Radio (NPR). Joining the network shortly after its founding, she served as a co-host of “All Things Considered” beginning in 1972, making her one of NPR’s most recognizable voices.

Over her decades on the air, Stamberg interviewed presidents, artists, and everyday people. She retired from NPR in September.

Born in Newark in 1938 and raised in New York City, Stamberg graduated from Barnard College before beginning her career in journalism.

She is survived by her family and a generation of journalists who credit her with opening doors and setting new standards for humanity in the news.