[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31949]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              ANDREA LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2009

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary life of Andrea Lewis. A talented journalist, radio news 
anchor and a true renaissance woman, Ms. Lewis had an uncanny ability 
to broach any subject with her impressive knowledge, affability and 
confidence. Ms. Lewis passed away Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the age 
of 52.
  Andrea Lewis, a native of Detroit, Michigan, earned her B.A. from 
Eastern Michigan University, where she studied music, English 
literature, and art history. After moving to the Bay Area in 1983, she 
became an editor for Plexus: West Coast Women's Press, and in the late 
1980s, she worked as a research editor for Mother Jones magazine. After 
gaining further publishing experience as an editorial assistant at 
Harper Collins Publishers in San Francisco and senior editor at Third 
Force Magazine in the early 90s, Ms. Lewis joined Pacific News Service 
as an associate editor.
  Ms. Lewis, known for her rich, resonant voice, made an effortless 
transition to radio in 1999, joining the KPFA Morning Show as co-host 
of the two-hour weekday public affairs program. Though the warm tone 
and timbre of Andrea's voice was often praised, she is most remembered 
for voicing sound and well-researched opinions.
  A tireless advocate and champion for civil rights, Ms. Lewis was 
particularly interested in combating sexism, racism and homophobia. Ms. 
Lewis acquired a following throughout her career, and was especially 
admired for her thoughtful and compassionate equanimity when discussing 
difficult subjects on or off the air.
  More recently, Ms. Lewis took a year off to complete a 2008 Knight 
Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University. She returned as evening 
news co-anchor and host of a two-hour Sunday morning interview and 
call-in program that she dubbed ``Sunday Sedition.'' She was also a 
fellow in the Society of Professional Journalists Diversity Leadership 
Program from 2006 to 2007.
  Among Ms. Lewis' many accolades were The National Federation of 
Community Broadcasters' Golden Reel award in 2002, the California 
Teachers Association's John Swett Award for Media Excellence in 2004, 
and many well-received published articles. Ms. Lewis was a regular 
contributor to Madison, Wisconsin's Progressive Magazine, and I am 
honored to hear that she was proud to have had a quotation from our 
2005 interview included in the Progressive's 100th anniversary edition 
in April.
  Ms. Lewis exercised a life-long passion for music as both a member of 
her university's choral group, which toured Europe, and for the last 20 
years, as a talented alto in the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Both 
Ms. Lewis and her family were so proud when the chorus had the honor of 
performing at Carnegie Hall. She was also an avid reader, a sports fan 
and a lifelong golfer. She will be remembered by family, friends and 
colleagues for her laughter, her insight, her honesty and her vibrant 
spirit.
  This evening, we salute and honor a great human being, Ms. Andrea 
Lewis. Our community is indebted to her life's contribution in 
countless ways. We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Lewis's family 
and to all who were dear to her. May her soul rest in peace.

                          ____________________