Ode To Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem

Very sad to hear about the passing of Gloria Steinem who I had the honor to work with during my career. In the 1970’s I was just starting out in television breaking the glass ceiling as the first woman audio engineer, camerawoman & editor at WCVB in Boston. At the time I was working on a feminist public affairs television show called “Your Place & Mine” produced by Eunice West. Eunice had one of the earliest all-women rock bands The Deadly Nightshade on who took me under their wing. When they were performing at Town Hall in NYC for Ms. Magazine’s 2nd Anniversary in 1974 Eunice invited me to fly down to attend the event stopping first at Ms. Magazine. There we met with Ms. editors who were more interested in me than Eunice which resulted in her abandoning me. Fortunately I was recused by Pam Brandt lead singer of the Nightshade & the band who took me home to Pam’s parents in Montclaire New Jersey & I flew home the next day. A few months later Gloria Steinem appeared on WCVB’s prime-time variety show “Good Evening, Good Morning” hosted by John Willis & Janet Langhart a spin-off of their highly popular morning program “Good Day!” that morphed into ABC’s “Good Morning America.” I was working the show so took the opportunity to approach Steinem to introduce myself to the feminist Icon. She then told me she had heard very good things about me from the Ms. editors I had previously met. I thanked her & left the studio momentarily to recover from the shock & awe that she knew who I was. Gloria & I worked together again in 1980 then lost touch. Rest In Power Gloria Steinem. (Image Christina Tarkoff)