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{{Short description|American writer and journalist (1951–2022)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox person
'''Robin Herman''' (November 24, 1951 – February 1, 2022) was an American writer and journalist. She was the first female [[Sports journalism|sports journalist]] for ''[[The New York Times]]''.▼
| birth_date = {{birth date|1951|11|24}}
| birth_place = [[New York City, New York]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|2|1|1951|11|24}}
| alma_mater = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| death_place = [[Waltham, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| spouse = Paul Horvitz
| children = 2
}}
▲'''Robin Cathy Herman''' (November 24, 1951 – February 1, 2022) was an American writer and journalist. She was the first female [[Sports journalism|sports journalist]] for ''[[The New York Times]]''.
 
Herman had a successful and eclectic career, ranging from sports writing to assistant dean of communications for [[Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health|Harvard school of Public Health]]., Shewhere wasshe aalso writertaught. forShe ''Thealso Newwrote Yorkabout Times''health and medicine for ''[[The Washington Post]]'' and taughtabout atwomen's issues on [[Harvard University|HarvardTwitter]], and publishedin booksa onpersonal [[renewable energy]]blog, asand wellshe aspublished thea needbook foron [[genderrenewable equalityenergy]].
 
== Early life and education ==
Herman was born in [[New York City]] on November 24, 1951.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=February 3, 2022-02-03|title=Robin Herman, Who Pried Open Doors in the N.H.L., Dies at 70|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/sports/hockey/robin-herman-dead.html|access-date=February 3, 2022-02-03|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> She grew up in [[Port Washington, New York|Port Washington]], [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages|publisher = Gale|year = 2007|isbn = 978-0-7876-9394-7|pages = 866}}</ref> She was among the first class of women enrolled in [[Princeton University]] in 1969. Herman graduated with a bachelor’sbachelor's degree in English in 1973, [[Latina honors|Magnamember Cum Laude]] inof the first graduating class of women in Princeton history.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://awsmonline.org/robin-herman-named-2015-mary-garber-pioneer-award-winner/|title=Robin Herman named 2015 Mary Garber Pioneer Award winner|last=Lenzi|first=Rachel|date=26 December 26, 2014|access-date=6 April 6, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302005238/http://awsmonline.org/robin-herman-named-2015-mary-garber-pioneer-award-winner/|archivedate=March 2, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> SheDuring her time at Princeton, she was the firstonly female staffer of ''[[The Daily Princetonian]]''.<ref>{{Cite duringweb|title=Frist herCampus timeCenter atIconography|url=https://www.princeton.edu/frist/iconography/p76.shtml|access-date=February the8, university2022|website=www.princeton.edu}}</ref> She startedwas initially assigned to news, but after confronting the sports editor, outshe coveringcovered men's [[Rugby football|rugby]]. andShe wentlater onbecame to become the paper’stheir first female sports editor, and laterthen a [[managing editor]].<ref name=":0" />
 
== Career ==
Line 12 ⟶ 21:
 
=== 1975 NHL All-Star Game ===
{{Anchor|Marcelle St. Cyr}}
Robin Herman and MarcelMarcelle St. Cyr ([[CKLM]] radio in Montreal) became the first womenfemale reporters allowed in a men's professional sports [[Changing room|locker room]] on January 21, 1975, at the [[28th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1975 NHL All-Star Game]] in [[Montreal, Canada]]. While the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Wales Conference]] Allall-Starstar team easily beat the [[Western Conference (NHL)|Campbell Conference]] Allall-Starstar Gameteam 7–1,<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1975 |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28942 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |access-date=7 February 7, 2022 |date=January 21, 1975}}</ref> Robintelevision cameras and Marcelother instantlyjournalists becameinstead thefocused news,on Herman's and televisionSt. camerasCyr's focusedpresence onin themthe instead.locker Despiteroom, despite Herman's efforts to swayturn the attention back to the game, the story focused on the women in the locker room.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/sports/hockey/24reporter.html?_r=0|title=In 1975, 2 Women Crossed a Barrier|last=Zinser|first=Lynn|date=23 January 23, 2010|access-date=6 April 6, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/the-first-woman-through-the-locker-room-door-35-years-ago/|title=The First Woman Through the Locker Room Door, 35 Years Ago|last=Zinser|first=Lynn|date=21 January 21, 2010|access-date=6 April 6, 2015}}</ref>
 
“Breaking the locker room barrier” was seen as a symbolic assault on traditional [[male privilege]] and power. As the only female member of the [[Professional Hockey Writers' Association|Professional Hockey Writers Association]] at the time, Herman stared down intimidation and eventually pried open the locker rooms of all but four NHL teams before leaving sports for [[Political journalism|political coverage]] in 1979.<ref name=":0" />
 
=== Other journalism ===
In 1978Herman, Hermanthe leftonly female member of the [[Professional Hockey Writers' Association|Professional Hockey Writers Association]] during her sports writing career, gained access to becomeall abut politicalfour reporterNHL forteam ''Thelocker Newrooms Yorkover Times''four years.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="LegacyObit"/> She wasmoved ato New York [[Political journalism|political reportercoverage]] for ''The Times'' for five years, until she left the paper in 1983.<ref name=":4" /> In 1991, she wrote for ''The Washington Post'' and covered issues relating to health and medical fields.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wimnonline.org/WIMNsVoicesBlog/?author=24&profile#bio|title=Robin Herman's Biography|date=1 October 1, 2013|access-date=6 April 6, 2015|website=Women In Media & News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923110313/http://www.wimnonline.org/WIMNsVoicesBlog/?author=24&profile#bio|archivedate=September 23, 2011}}</ref>
 
=== Harvard ===
In 1999, Herman was appointed as director of [[Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health]]'s office of communications. In 2006, she became the Assistantassistant Deandean of Communicationscommunications and wouldremained holdin thisthe position for four years. She additionally co-taught a [[health communication]]s course at the school.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2006/02/herman-is-assistant-dean-for-communications-at-hsph/|title=Herman is assistant dean for communications at HSPH|date=2 February 2, 2006|access-date=April 6 April, 2015}}</ref> According to the school's dean Barry Bloom, "Robin has provided an extraordinary level of service to the School community."<ref name=":3LegacyObit" />
 
=== Art ===
After 13 years at Harvard, Herman established a career in fine arts, painting in watercolor, acrylic and pastel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robin Herman Art|url=https://www.facebook.com/RobinHermanArt/|access-date=February 3, 2022-02-03|website=Facebook|language=en}}</ref><ref name="LegacyObit">{{Cite news|title=ROBIN C. HERMAN|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/robin-herman-obituary?id=32636964|access-date=February 3, 2022-02-03|via=[[Legacy.com]]}}</ref>
 
== Political views ==
Aside from writing for the ''Times'' as a political writer for five years, Herman wrote about women’swomen's issues, including in sports, on [[Twitter]] (@girlinthelocker) and in a websiteblog www.girlinthelockerroom.comon a personal website.<ref name=":0" /> She statedstarted thatthe herblog ideain forresponse theto [[blog]]George startedW. whenBush]]'s [[George W. Bush]] ran2004 presidential campaign|bid for re-election in 2004]]. She said: "I felt that women's rights and integrity were being undermined by the Bush administration and that younger women did not realize that their standing in society was being eroded." She felt her experience as a female sports journalist and the "girl in the locker room" well represented the cause for equal opportunity in employment and other rights for women.<ref name=":0" />
 
== Personal life and death ==
Herman was married to Paul Horvitz with whom she had a daughter and a son. She died of [[ovarian cancer]] at her home in [[Waltham, Massachusetts]] on February 1, 2022, at the age of 70.<ref name=":4" />
 
== Published works ==
She wrote a [[history of science]] book ''Fusion: The Search for Endless Energy''., (a [[history of science]] book published by [[Cambridge University Press,]] in 1990).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />
 
== Awards and recognition ==
Herman is the 17th winner ofwon the [[Mary Garber]] Pioneer award, the highest honor of the Association of Women in Sports Media's highestgiven honor.in Therecognition award goes to a person showingof "distinguished work in the sports media industry and commitment to upholding and advancing the values of AWSM".<ref name=":0" />
 
She is mentioned in the 2013 documentary ''Let Them Wear Towels''. The documentary details the struggles of those women who first sought to enter the all-male locker rooms in various professional sports leagues. It is part of the series of documentaries produced by [[ESPN Films]] entitled ''[[Nine for IX]]''.<ref name=":4"/> The series focuses on women in sports and is told through the lens of female [[Filmmaking|film makers]].<ref name = "Press Release">{{cite web|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2013/02/espn-films-and-espnw-announce-nine-for-ix/|title=ESPN Films and espnW Announce Nine for IX|last=Cingari|first=Jennifer|date=February 19, 2013|access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
 
== References ==
Line 47 ⟶ 55:
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from ovarian cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Port Washington, New York]]

Latest revision as of 03:50, 24 March 2024

Robin Herman
Born(1951-11-24)November 24, 1951
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 1, 2022(2022-02-01) (aged 70)
Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma materPrinceton University (BA)
SpousePaul Horvitz
Children2

Robin Cathy Herman (November 24, 1951 – February 1, 2022) was an American writer and journalist. She was the first female sports journalist for The New York Times.

Herman had a successful and eclectic career, ranging from sports writing to assistant dean of communications for Harvard school of Public Health, where she also taught. She also wrote about health and medicine for The Washington Post and about women's issues on Twitter and in a personal blog, and she published a book on renewable energy.

Early life and education[edit]

Herman was born in New York City on November 24, 1951.[1] She grew up in Port Washington, Long Island, New York.[2] She was among the first class of women enrolled in Princeton University in 1969. Herman graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 1973, a member of the first graduating class of women in Princeton history.[3][1] During her time at Princeton, she was the only female staffer of The Daily Princetonian.[4] She was initially assigned to news, but after confronting the sports editor, she covered men's rugby. She later became their first female sports editor, then a managing editor.[3]

Career[edit]

Herman became the first female sportswriter in the history of The New York Times upon graduation in 1973.[3]

1975 NHL All-Star Game[edit]

Herman and Marcelle St. Cyr (CKLM radio in Montreal) became the first female reporters allowed in a men's professional sports locker room on January 21, 1975, at the 1975 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal, Canada. While the Wales Conference all-star team easily beat the Campbell Conference all-star team 7–1,[5] television cameras and other journalists instead focused on Herman's and St. Cyr's presence in the locker room, despite Herman's efforts to turn the attention back to the game.[6][7]

Other journalism[edit]

Herman, the only female member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association during her sports writing career, gained access to all but four NHL team locker rooms over four years.[3][8] She moved to New York political coverage for The Times for five years, until she left the paper in 1983.[1] In 1991, she wrote for The Washington Post and covered issues relating to health and medical fields.[9]

Harvard[edit]

In 1999, Herman was appointed as director of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's office of communications. In 2006, she became the assistant dean of communications and remained in the position for four years. She additionally co-taught a health communications course at the school.[10][8]

Art[edit]

After 13 years at Harvard, Herman established a career in fine arts, painting in watercolor, acrylic and pastel.[11][8]

Political views[edit]

Aside from writing for the Times as a political writer for five years, Herman wrote about women's issues, including in sports, on Twitter (@girlinthelocker) and in a blog on a personal website.[3] She started the blog in response to George W. Bush's bid for re-election in 2004. She said: "I felt that women's rights and integrity were being undermined by the Bush administration and that younger women did not realize that their standing in society was being eroded." She felt her experience as a female sports journalist and the "girl in the locker room" well represented the cause for equal opportunity in employment and other rights for women.[3]

Personal life[edit]

Herman was married to Paul Horvitz with whom she had a daughter and a son. She died of ovarian cancer at her home in Waltham, Massachusetts on February 1, 2022, at the age of 70.[1]

Published works[edit]

She wrote Fusion: The Search for Endless Energy, a history of science book published by Cambridge University Press in 1990.[9][1]

Awards and recognition[edit]

Herman won the Mary Garber Pioneer award, the highest honor of the Association of Women in Sports Media given in recognition of "distinguished work in the sports media industry and commitment to upholding and advancing the values of AWSM".[3]

She is mentioned in the 2013 documentary Let Them Wear Towels. The documentary details the struggles of those women who first sought to enter the male locker rooms in various professional sports leagues. It is part of the series of documentaries produced by ESPN Films entitled Nine for IX.[1] The series focuses on women in sports and is told through the lens of female film makers.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Sandomir, Richard (February 3, 2022). "Robin Herman, Who Pried Open Doors in the N.H.L., Dies at 70". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. Gale. 2007. p. 866. ISBN 978-0-7876-9394-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lenzi, Rachel (December 26, 2014). "Robin Herman named 2015 Mary Garber Pioneer Award winner". Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  4. ^ "Frist Campus Center Iconography". www.princeton.edu. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1975". National Hockey League. January 21, 1975. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Zinser, Lynn (January 23, 2010). "In 1975, 2 Women Crossed a Barrier". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  7. ^ Zinser, Lynn (January 21, 2010). "The First Woman Through the Locker Room Door, 35 Years Ago". Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "ROBIN C. HERMAN". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Legacy.com.
  9. ^ a b "Robin Herman's Biography". Women In Media & News. October 1, 2013. Archived from the original on September 23, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  10. ^ "Herman is assistant dean for communications at HSPH". February 2, 2006. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  11. ^ "Robin Herman Art". Facebook. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  12. ^ Cingari, Jennifer (February 19, 2013). "ESPN Films and espnW Announce Nine for IX". Retrieved February 7, 2022.
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