Obituary of Ralph Jennings
Ralph Jennings, a transformative figure who brought stature, stability, prosperity, and influence to WFUV, Fordham Universityās esteemed radio station, passed away on October 9 in Manhattan at the age of 86. His wife, Paula (Tadlock) Jennings, shared that his death resulted from normal pressure hydrocephalus, a specific brain condition, compounded by multiple infections.
A lifelong admirer of radio, Dr. Jennings cultivated his passion for the medium from a young age, despite grappling with severe nearsightedness. He took the helm of WFUV in 1985, a pivotal year for the station. At that time, WFUV was primarily known for its rock shows featuring shout-outs to the disc jockeyās college friends and cultural programs aimed at niche audiences. Upon assuming leadership, Dr. Jennings discovered neglected matching grant forms worth $10,000 that had been overlooked and never processed, revealing untapped potential for the stationās growth.
Reflecting on his early days at WFUV, Dr. Jennings remarked, āYou had a 50,000-watt radio station in New York City that covers 13 million people, acting as a sandbox.ā This metaphor aptly captured the station’s untapped possibilities and vibrant energy.
Dr. Jennings was committed to preserving WFUV’s legacy as a nurturing ground for budding talent. Established in 1947 in three converted lecture halls, WFUV was New York Cityās first college noncommercial radio station. Its alumni include renowned sportscasters Vin Scully and Mike Breen, as well as the versatile music broadcaster Paul Cavalconte.
In many respects, Dr. Jennings reimagined WFUV’s mission and outreach. He successfully obtained support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which allowed him to expand the stationās professional staff, thereby enhancing its programming and community engagement.