The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

(Left to right) Jack Steck, unidentified female, and Marie Pantarelli
WFIL Picnic
1949

Broadcast Pioneers member Marie Pantarelli started working at WFIL Radio a few months before WFIL-TV (now WPVI) came on the air in September of 1947. She worked there for almost a quarter of a century as the Assistant to the General Manager.

Longtime Broadcast Pioneers members Lew Klein and George Koehler formed Gateways Communications and purchased all of Triangle Publication's television stations (except Channel 6) from Walter Annenberg. They hired Marie away from WPVI-TV. She became and integral part of the company's operations.

(left to right) Broadcast Pioneers members Lew Klein, Marie Pantarelli and Janet Klein
Friday, November 16, 2007

She served on our board of directors for twenty years and was our Vice-President during 2004 and 2005. She had been a member of this organization for a half-century.

Pantarelli lived in Haddonfield, New Jersey where she was a long-time resident. Pantarelli was graduated from Girls High School in Philadelphia with honors.

(Left to right) Members Lew Klein, Marie Pantarelli and George Koehler
Gateway Communications, Inc.
1982

She loved the arts and could often be found at the Philadelphia Orchestra concerts and at the opera. In retirement, she spent many hours volunterring and serving others at St. Mary's Catholic Home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com