RALPH JENNINGS

JENNINGS--Ralph Merwin, age 86, passed away October 9, 2024 in New York City. Ralph grew up in Torrington, CT and spent most of his career in New York City. He fulfilled his childhood dream to run a radio station in New York City in 1985 when he became General Manager of WFUV-FM 90.7, Fordham's NPR member radio station. He stayed for 26 years, building the station into a New York treasure, training hundreds of students, and realizing his belief that broadcasting should serve the public interest by advancing culture and ideas. From 1968-1980, Ralph was deputy director in the Office of Communication, United Church of Christ. He worked with its director, Everett C. Parker, to challenge the licenses of radio and television stations practicing racial and gender bias in their hiring and programming content. He led numerous workshops and seminars all over the country to help community groups organize to protect their rights in broadcasting. Ralph graduated from Suffield Academy in Connecticut and attended the College of Wooster in Ohio where he managed the student radio station WWST. He earned a PhD from New York University (1968) in the field of communications. Ralph is survived by his wife Paula (Tadlock), daughter Alma and son Matthew.