Susan Farmer was one of the
few people I’ve known who could simultaneously project a sense of shrewdness,
great wit, and understanding. She
was attractive, bright, and articulate.
She was tenacious…and she had a wonderful sense of humor.
Susan was a public
broadcasting colleague. From the
late 1980’s until 2004, she was president of WSBE-TV in Providence, Rhode
Island. She died one month ago – on Monday, September 16, following a long battle with cancer. She was 71.
Like many who knew her, my
initial and abiding reaction to the news of her death was one of loss – even
though it’s been years since I talked or corresponded with Susan. So I’m left to revel in the memories of
some good times we shared over the years.
From a Corporation for Public Broadcasting leadership workshop where we
first got to know each another – to the many years we worked together within
OSBE, the Organization of State Broadcast Executives.
OSBE is comprised of public
broadcasting executives from some 25 states that are each served by a statewide
network of public broadcasting outlets.
Many are in the wide open spaces, like Wyoming, Nebraska, the Dakotas,
and Oklahoma. But a single
station, WSBE-TV in Providence, dominates the entire – if diminutive – state. And so it was at OSBE that I got
to know Susan.
Did I say she was
shrewd? Witty? Articulate?
Absolutely. But most of the memories I carry of
Susan are of a dedicated professional with a mischievous smile and an
infectious sense of humor.
A pair of scissors and Jack
McBride’s necktie were key ingredients for a bit of legendary laughter at several
of our OSBE meetings. And I still
chuckle when I recall one starlit night in Virginia when Susan and I, along
with Rod Bates and a small cadre of other OSBE golfers, rushed to finish our
game before dark….unsuccessfully.
Our laughter in the darkness
left little possibility of ever actually hearing where our golf shots were
landing. We couldn’t see. But we could laugh…..and we did.
Susan Farmer was passionate
about her work. Rhode
Islanders identify her as the one person who saved Rhode Island public
television in the early 1990’s when funding for the network had been yanked.
She was a joy to know and
work with. I think you’ll
understand why, if you take a few moments to sort through portions of this
online tribute to Susan Farmer: If You Knew Susie.
Some of her colleagues shared their thoughts and memories of Susan in the following excerpt from the WSBE-TV program A Lively Experiment (below), which Susan had created many years ago. It's a fitting tribute to a classy lady.
