R.I.P.
A coworker died. Someone I look up to.
I'm still a bit in shock over it and it isn't quite real. The newsroom is sad, empty quiet today.
Here are some things I remember about Andrea.
She said, "You're working too much. I remember when I did that. Be careful that you don't burn out."
She wore two different earrings.
While on air, she liked to use the hard chairs.
I remember seeing her on TWINK ( http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/thisweek/ ), with makeup on. I remember seeing her in person, very beautiful, no makeup.
She had a huge voice and laughed and sang through the halls.
She insisted on being sincere on the air, always.
She called people on their isms.
She did not necessarily take being called an elder as a compliment, but then again, I guess I don't know for sure and don't understand her completely. She was complex and continues to be. I already miss her and can't wait to go home and cry.
Here is her obituary - or one version of it, written by our producer:
"BEFORE WE GO TODAY, WE PAY TRIBUTE TO JOURNALIST AND PACIFICA RADIO PRODUCER ANDREA LEWIS, WHO DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 52. ANDREA WAS A CONTRIBUTOR TO FSRN IN THE EARLY DAYS, NEARLY A DECADE AGO. ORIGINALLY FROM DETROIT, ANDREA MOVED TO THE BAY AREA IN 1983, WHERE SHE BEGAN A LONG CAREER AS A JOURNALIST, WORKING FOR MOTHER JONES, COLOR LINES, YOUTH OUTLOOK, PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE AND APPEARING AS A GUEST ON KQED PUBLIC TV . SHE ALSO ANCHORED KPFA AND KPFK'S EVENING NEWS AND HOSTED KPFA'S PROGRAM "SUNDAY SEDITION." LAST YEAR, ANDREA WAS AWARDED A KNIGHT FELLOWSHIP AT STANFORD WHERE SHE STUDIED "the role of alternative journalism in contemporary American culture and democracy.". AND WHEN SHE WASN'T FOCUSED ON RADIO, ANDREA USED HER VOICE IN ANOTHER WAY - SINGING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CHORUS. FSRN SENDS OUR THOUGHTS TO HER FAMILY, LOVED ONES AND COLLEAGUES - ANDREW LEWIS, PASSED AWAY LAST WEEKEND AT THE AGE OF 52."
I'm still a bit in shock over it and it isn't quite real. The newsroom is sad, empty quiet today.
Here are some things I remember about Andrea.
She said, "You're working too much. I remember when I did that. Be careful that you don't burn out."
She wore two different earrings.
While on air, she liked to use the hard chairs.
I remember seeing her on TWINK ( http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/thisweek/ ), with makeup on. I remember seeing her in person, very beautiful, no makeup.
She had a huge voice and laughed and sang through the halls.
She insisted on being sincere on the air, always.
She called people on their isms.
She did not necessarily take being called an elder as a compliment, but then again, I guess I don't know for sure and don't understand her completely. She was complex and continues to be. I already miss her and can't wait to go home and cry.
Here is her obituary - or one version of it, written by our producer:
"BEFORE WE GO TODAY, WE PAY TRIBUTE TO JOURNALIST AND PACIFICA RADIO PRODUCER ANDREA LEWIS, WHO DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 52. ANDREA WAS A CONTRIBUTOR TO FSRN IN THE EARLY DAYS, NEARLY A DECADE AGO. ORIGINALLY FROM DETROIT, ANDREA MOVED TO THE BAY AREA IN 1983, WHERE SHE BEGAN A LONG CAREER AS A JOURNALIST, WORKING FOR MOTHER JONES, COLOR LINES, YOUTH OUTLOOK, PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE AND APPEARING AS A GUEST ON KQED PUBLIC TV . SHE ALSO ANCHORED KPFA AND KPFK'S EVENING NEWS AND HOSTED KPFA'S PROGRAM "SUNDAY SEDITION." LAST YEAR, ANDREA WAS AWARDED A KNIGHT FELLOWSHIP AT STANFORD WHERE SHE STUDIED "the role of alternative journalism in contemporary American culture and democracy.". AND WHEN SHE WASN'T FOCUSED ON RADIO, ANDREA USED HER VOICE IN ANOTHER WAY - SINGING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY CHORUS. FSRN SENDS OUR THOUGHTS TO HER FAMILY, LOVED ONES AND COLLEAGUES - ANDREW LEWIS, PASSED AWAY LAST WEEKEND AT THE AGE OF 52."