Studs Terkel Remembered

New York, NY —

The life of Studs Terkel, the renowned oral historian, radio personality, actor and writer, was celebrated last night at The Great Hall of Cooper Union. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more:

REPORTER: A famous Chicagoan, Studs Terkel was born only a few blocks away from the Great Hall on Avenue A and lived in New York until he was nine years old. His memorial attracted many luminaries, including writer Walter Mosley, historian Howard Zinn, and musician Steve Earle. But, befitting Terkel, the Great Hall filled with the general public as well.

Terkel is most remembered for celebrating "the uncelebrated" or the everyman in his oral histories. Son Dan recalls his dad had an uncommon knack for putting people at ease, like the time he interviewed a woman in a Chicago housing project.

TERKEL: He played back the tape so the woman could hear it. She sat absolutely transfixed. When it was over she declared, "I never knew I felt that way."

REPORTER: Ninety-six-year old Terkel was also remembered for his years on Chicago radio station WFMT, his 20 books, and insatiable curiosity and humor. For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.