top
East Bay
East Bay
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

In Memory of Andrea Lewis

by KPFA (reposted)
(June 4, 1957 - November 15, 2009)
victoria-z_andrea-lewis.jpg
Victoria Z and Andrea Lewis at the 2007 Power to the Peaceful live broadcast.


It is with deep sadness that we bring you the news of the death of our own Andrea Lewis. She died this weekend of an apparent heart attack at her San Francisco home. She was just 52. Andrea's parents are on their way from Florida. We are planning a memorial service and will let you know as soon as we have details. Andrea came to KPFA in 1999 as a co-host of the Morning Show. She later became host of Sunday Sedition and an Evening News Co-Anchor. Andrea was a true Renaissance woman with an interest in politics, world affairs, sports, science, music and the arts. She was dedicated to discussing on and off the air the issues of social justice, especially in regards to racial and gender equity. Her booming laugh filled the hallways of the station. Andrea occasionally hosted Pacifica National broadcasts; she was an early host for Free Speech Radio News. Andrea wrote for the Progressive Magazine, sang with the S.F. Symphony Chorus, was a former Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University -- and was an avid golfer. We -- and the listeners -- will all miss her tremendously.
§Andrea Lewis: Bio
by KPFA (reposted)
andrea-lewis_1.jpg
Andrea Lewis was born and raised in Detroit and earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University. She moved to the Bay Area in 1983 and began her career in journalism as a calendar, arts & entertainment editor for Plexus: West Coast Women's Press. In 1988, she began working for Mother Jones magazine, and within a few months was hired as a research editor. She became an editorial assistant in 1991 for Harper San Francisco, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. In 1993, Lewis became a senior editor for Third Force magazine (now Color Lines), after working with the publication as a freelance editor for many years. She joined the staff of Pacific News Service in San Francisco (now New America Media) in 1996 as an associate editor and an editor for YO! (Youth Outlook). In December 1999, she was hired as the co-host and producer of "The Morning Show" at KPFA Radio in Berkeley, the first listener-sponsored radio station in the country. In addition to her work in radio, she contributes to several other news outlets, including the Progressive Media Project, which seeks to increase the diversity of representation on the op-ed pages of daily newspapers. She was the recipient of a National Federation of Community Broadcasters Golden Reels Award in 2002 and a John Swett Award for Media Excellence 2004 from the California Teachers Association. She was a fellow in the Society of Professional Journalists Diversity Leadership Program from 2006-2007.

Andrea Lewis is a member of the Stanford University John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship Class of 2008. During her time at Stanford, Lewis' focus of study was "the role of alternative journalism in contemporary American culture and democracy." In July of 2007, Lewis returned to the airwaves of KPFA as a co anchor of The Evening News and the host and producer of KPFA's Sunday morning public affairs program.
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by Heather Mitchell
She will be missed. I thoroughly enjoyed her programs over her years at KPFA. Her voice was calming and relaxing and you knew she was having fun. Thank you Andrea! Best wishes to those closer to her, may you find solace at this time.
by maggie kaiglera
My home-girl sister friend news writer ...we will not forget you "...For you have been carved on the palm of our hands...."
by Honesty even in Obits
Andrea Lewis was probably a very decent human being . I never met her . I only knew her thru her programming at KPFA. But to be honest she was not really committed to a true alternative media. She was at best only a mildly progressive voice. She knew a lot about music, theatre, and other related issues. Those she was passionate about .
But she sounded like she was only going thru the motions when it came to broader concerns . She never seemed especially upset about the wars, Palestine, Union busting , Political prisoners and so on. She was a loyal Democrat . No more No less.
I'm sure that some will be upset by my comments. But many know it's true .
No doubt her friends and family are mourning her relatively early death . As well they should . But when i read commentaries like that of Matthew Rothschild i can't recognize the picture he paints.
by Stephenie Hendricks
I only got to work with Andrea a few times and each time wanted to work with her more. Such a great, gifted person, a generous spirit who reached out and touched listeners, and helped us make sense of the world. This is so sad and way too soon. All of us were blessed who had the privilege of working with her. My heart goes out to her close friends and family.
by Peace Witch
This is not the forum to air your doubts/prejustices.
by activist
We are so grateful for Andrea's life and work. In addition to excellent programming, she would often announce important activist events that the community calendar apprentices ignored. We will miss her dearly. In her honor, Sedition!
dear Honesty in obits

And sometimes the truth hurts. Culture, music and the arts were the morning show mainstay AND her forte. When she returned from a Stanford fellowship, boom...the morning show format had changed and she was out. She took the gig she was given. Anchoring the 6 PM news and following Larry Bensky as host of Sunday Salon renamed Sunday Sedition, is a different format and energy from co-hosting a well produced morning show. Mmmm-hmmmmm you are right... you are telling the truth but --- let us tell the WHOLE truth and nothing but...
by Lynda Carson
Sorry to hear of the passing of Andrea Lewis.

I will miss the voice of Andrea Lewis on KPFA, just as I miss the voice of Wendal Harper, Chris Bruney, and Mama O'Shea...

Wendal has not passed away, but I miss his voice all the same...

Lynda Carson
by Dale Fuller
You all are conflicted about something that is off my radar scope, but an important voice has been silenced, and this Canadian listener will very much miss hearing it. Que descanses en paz, Andrea.
by Dennis Rowcliffe
The memorial service for Andrea will be held at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, near the 980 freeway, at the corner of Castro and 14th St, on Tues. Nov 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. (The sanctuary there is newly renovated -- scaffolding removed just this week -- and the 115 year old building is much stronger for the earthquake stability work that was done.)
by Michael Hardesty
It's always tragic when someone dies, particularly at such an early age as Andrea Lewis but I do agree with Honesty In Obits that the truth should always come first. I was not a fan of Andrea's but compared to the white leftist hosts like Bensky or Maldari she was a model of fairness, especially on race issues. She would actually let dissident voices have their say in fairness, unlike
Bensky, Maldari, Welch, Bernstein and the rest of the rote leftists. Andrea was a party line Dem
but then the ultra-left at KPFA, the RCP clones, are a bigger pain. The real problem is the whole statist-collectivist ideology that runs Pacifica and that KPFa is so unseemly as to promote such insanitary outfits like Southern Poverty Law Center. KPFA needs to have some real dissents such
as Peter Duesberg, "Holocaust" revisionists and Ayn Rand Objectivists instead of the same old,
same old.
by Honest Obits
Maggie Kaigler said that Music and Culture were the ''mainstays '' of the Morning Show and that was changed during A.L.'s time at Stanford . I don't think so . As long as i have been listening the first hour anyway has been devoted to Politics . (Note by that i don't just mean Electoral activity . Wars and resistance to them, strikes , fighting against Police Brutality , etc. are all Political even if the corporate media says otherwise ) It was my understanding that she was demoted due to clashes with Malderi and that , rightly or wrongly, Amy Allison was more popular with listeners .
Re the sentiments that it is somehow improper to voice any criticism of the deceased, i couldn't disagree more . Andrea Lewis was a "' Public figure ''. Albeit a minor one . Any Politican , elected official and yes even a Non profit '' Media personality '' can, and should !, be subjected not only to lavish praise as her fans would apparently have it , but serious questions and criticisms.
To say that it no way depreciates the pain her family and her friends are going thru .
by Michael Bailly (miketreefrog [at] yahoo.com)


When I first was introduced to the gentle voice and mind of this genuinely compassionate lady on the radio at KPFA, I was like always happy that KPFA will remain an intelligent, open, egalitarian minded place to connect with, and Andrea certainly maintained this intent and legacy of KPFA moving forward. She was a hard working and dedicated spirit and we will miss her. I'm currently faced with the ever present reality when a wonderful human being leaves me, asking who will replace her? Can we replace her?
I, like so many, loved her.
by maggie again
Be clear, Aimee Allison elevated the Morning Show as soon as she walked into the studio and opened the mike. The question, if there is one, concerns the effective administration, management, process for removal and/or reassignment of her predecessor, and that was a management call...
by Richard Phelps, former Chair KPFA LSB
Now is not the time to analyse Andrea Lewis' politics for any reason. People should respect the needs of those that were close to her to mourn and think about the positive things that they loved about Andrea and will miss. This is a time where feelings must take priority and be given room. Politics are subjective like food. We don't all like the same thing. Respect is something we can all give, and it doesn't cost anything except a little humanity!
by maggie kaigler
And who are you to define how we are to grieve? You mourn your way and we will mourn our way. Bear witness ...
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$110.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network