Remembering Susan Stamberg: Trailblazing voice of American broadcasting

Susan Stamberg, America’s first female broadcaster and host of a national news program, has died aged 87.

She was a pioneering figure in American broadcasting, beginning her career in 1972 when she joined the National Public Radio (NPR).

Stamberg passed away on Thursday, October 16, 2025, her cause of death remains unknown.

Stamberg spent five decades at NPR and for most of that time, she remained a program host which speaks volumes of her caliber in American broadcasting. 

She became the host of All Things Considered in 1972.

Who was Susan Stamberg?

Susan Stamberg was born to Susan Levitt in Newark, New Jersey, in September 1938 and was raised primarily on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

She was the first child in her family to have attended college, graduating from Barnard College with a degree in English literature.

She married to Louis Stamberg when she was working in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after the marriage the couple relocated to Washington, D.C.

Stamberg then took a job at WAMU (a radio station based in Washington D.C., and an affiliate of NPR).

After joining NPR, she climbed quickly the ladder from a producer to an anchor of All Things Considered in 1972.

After spending 14 years anchoring the program All Things Considered, she switched to hosting a Weekend Edition Sunday, that allowed her to polish her creative side.

Later in 1987, she became host of the Sunday Puzzle.

She also served as a cultural correspondent for Morning Edition and Weekend Edition Saturday, retiring from her role this year in September.

Stamberg was honored with induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame, recognized for her engaging conversational style, sharp intelligence, and talent for uncovering compelling stories.

In 2020, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Stamberg leaves behind her son, Josh Stamberg, and her granddaughters, Vivian and Lena.

During her decades-long career in broadcasting, Susan Stamberg interviewed thousands of people, ranging from politicians to celebrities, as well as lesser-known individuals such as White House chefs and behind the scenes Hollywood workers.