Broadcaster Bea Asken had a wry sense of humor and occasionally threw in an unexpected comment or two into her broadcasts, such as suggesting to listeners one spring that they take their radios outside and “Garden with Gershwin.” She passed away at the age of 91 in December 2020.

She studied the piano from age four, when it was necessary for her to memorize the music because she was too nearsighted to read it. She was a graduate of the High School of Music and Art in New York City. She also received a degree in Art Education from Brooklyn College.

Music was always her first love and her education continued outside the classroom when she purchased a guitar and took lessons from a pupil of Segovia. Bea taught recorder at the “SHU String” community music school. She played the viola and viola da gamba. She performed in two viola consorts and two recorder consorts, played viola in community orchestras, and was WMNR’s expert on early music.