After more than fifty years with NPR and public broadcasting, Linda Wertheimer, has announced her retirement.

Wertheimer, Susan Stamberg, Nina Totenberg and Cokie Roberts were dubbed the “founding mothers” of the network, becoming famous voices at a time when jobs for women at media outlets were scarce, states Deadline.

The following is a note to the staff about Wertheimer’s pending retirement:

Linda is an NPR icon blazing trails for women, for the news magazines and superlative reporting of politics in this country. She began as a director of ATC, only to later host the show with her distinctive voice — authority, charm, and dry humor wrapped into smooth tenacity.

Her accomplishments are too numerous to list, but I encourage you to read her bio on our website for inspiration and admiration.

None of us would be here today without Linda’s commitment to telling the story fully, creatively and with curiosity. We stand on her shoulders, hoping that each of us can do for NPR what she has done for decades.

Thank you, Linda. We will keep your standards at heart and aim to preserve the legacy you have established so that NPR thrives for decades to come.

With endless gratitude and appreciation,

All of us at NPR

Photo: Doby Photography