Florence (Sue) Bahner, 93, died on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.
Bahner, the daughter of Irish immigrants and a survivor of the Great Depression began building a remarkable career immediately after graduating high school at age 16.
She received the William Ward Ayer Distinguished Service Award in 2005, recognizing excellence and integrity in outstanding and significant contributions to the field of Christian communications. Prior to that, Bahner had been in leadership at NRB for many years, elected to the association’s Board of Directors in 1983 and serving on NRB’s Executive Committee as Second Vice President, Secretary, and Member-at-large. Bahner was the first female president of the NRB Eastern chapter and received the Eastern Chapter’s Percy Award in 1997. Bahner also served as the chair of the NRB Radio Committee.
“Sue served NRB with distinction, including on its executive committee, board of directors, and president of the Eastern chapter of NRB. Her lifetime of service to the Lord was with excellence,” said NRB CEO Troy A. Miller. “She will be greatly missed by all at NRB who had the pleasure of knowing and working with her.”
She managed radio station WYRD in Syracuse and WWWG and WDCW in Rochester before founding Crossway Consulting, her own media consulting company providing management and programming assistance. As a broadcast journalist, she has interviewed world leaders, including the Prime Ministers of Ireland and Israel.
Celebrate her life with a time of sharing and remembrance on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 4-7 p.m. at B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home, 10 Genesee Street in Camillus, with a service of resurrection Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. at Mission Hope Community, 23 Main Street in Camillus.
In her honor, contributions may be made to the Blessing Fund of Mission Hope Community, 23 Main Street, Camillus, NY 13031, to the Dave and Sue Bahner Music Fund at Manlius Pebble Hill School, 5300 Jamesville Rd, Syracuse, NY 13214 or to the Long Pond Conservancy, c/o Champlain Area Trails, P.O. Box 193, Westport, NY 12993.
