Lee Randolph Bean

Randy Bean, a broadcast journalist and film producer, who had a passion for politics, sports and culture, died of a heart attack Sept.17, 2020, in Loveland, Colo. She was at home with close friends and her dog, Willow.

Before relocating to Colorado in 2017, she was a resident of Palo Alto, Calif., for 35 years.

Born Lee Randolph Bean in Bethlehem, Pa. on Aug. 7, 1948, Randy was the second daughter of Betty Lee Cleveland Bean and the Rev. George Martin Bean.

After attending middle and high school in Montclair, N.J. she studied at Northwestern University and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from The George Washington University. Randy went on to become an accomplished broadcast journalist and film producer at a time when few women were allowed to advance. In her own words, she was often “the only girl on the bus.”

Randy’s passion for politics and deep commitment to humanitarian ideals began at a young age. As a high schooler, she took the bus from Montclair to Manhattan on weekends to hand out leaflets for Robert F. Kennedy’s Senate campaign.

She later worked on Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign and George McGovern’s presidential run in 1972. She advocated for the most vulnerable in America — convictions that endured throughout her lifetime.

On the 52nd anniversary of RFK’s assassination, she shared a poignant essay.

“As hard as it is to summon memories of Robert Kennedy's death, it’s even more difficult, more than five decades later, to capture who he was, what made him special, and why he meant so much to me. His intense and visceral outrage at poverty, violence, inequality and injustice resonated in my own increasingly radical soul.”

In the early years of her impressive and pioneering journalism career, Randy worked as a writer and producer for “Bill Moyers Journal” in New York. Her work on that show garnered several Emmy nominations.

She came to California as a member of the 1982 class of the prestigious Professional Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University (later renamed the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships).

“She was a stalwart journalist, always advocating for ethical and honorable practices,” said James R. Bettinger, former director of the fellowship program. “She was always a valuable friend and ally.”

From 1986-1989, Randy worked as a writer/producer for KQED-TV in San Francisco. Her work focused on such issues as AIDS and homelessness. Her duties there included a weekly public affairs series for the “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.”

During her long tenure at Stanford, Randy was the founding executive producer of the Stanford Channel, which was launched in 1995. She produced “Becoming Stanford,” a two-part documentary on the university’s first 100 years; “Stress: Portrait of a Killer,” a co-production of Stanford and National Geographic, and many other documentaries. She also served as a communications and media consultant for Stanford’s Center on Longevity.

Her most recent project, “American Creed,” is an exploration of what it means to be American at a time when the nation is so divided. The feature-length film aired nationally on PBS in 2018 and continues to be a catalyst for community and classroom discussions across the country.

At the time of her death, she was the executive producer of her own firm, Green Bean Media.

Randy is remembered by friends and colleagues for her unwavering dedication to her craft and to those she loved. As news of her death spread, tributes poured in from across the country:

“Randy was such a force for good… She was an inspirational powerhouse to me then, and embodies the image of a strong, creative, passionate woman… She was a vibrant journalist… I always had tremendous respect for her…Randy was sharp, generous and knew what she wanted…She was a wonderful mentor and introduced me to new ideas and ways of living… Randy lived each day with a huge heart and brilliant mind… She was smart, had a great sense of humor, was passionate about her work, dogs and sports… Randy was so full of life it is hard to fathom the world without her… No more loyal friend than Randy…I already miss her raucous laugh and sly sense of humor… Randy, may you rest peacefully, knowing your work here was important and good and valuable.”

Randy’s many passions included golf, which she played with determination; cheering on Stanford’s basketball and football teams and watching the New York Mets and the New York Giants. A dog lover, Randy enjoyed walking in the Colorado front range with her beloved lab, Willow. She loved music, concerts, film and traveling with her friends who were from different walks of life and who had diverse outlooks. Her laugh made it impossible for anyone around her to be in a bad mood.

Randy is survived by her sister, Tracy Bean Kenny, and her brother, William Cleveland Bean, and his wife, Vicki Bean. She was an adoring aunt to Elizabeth Kenny Stein, Erin Kenny, Rebecca Bean, Suzanna Bean Hyle and William G. Bean and their spouses Robert Stein, Andrew Koncz, Matthew Clinton, Nathan Hyle and Ashlee Taylor Bean.

She also leaves behind a number of beloved grand nieces, grand nephews, and godchildren. She showed up for them in so many sweet and particular ways. Every kid that Randy loved remembers her playing endless hours of Legos and reading books to them and going to their performances.

Randy’s ashes will be scattered on the Colorado Front Range in August of 2021.

The family requests that gifts in Randy’s memory be donated to the Classics for Kids Foundation, an organization committed to empowering youth through music. For more information, visit https://classicsforkids.org/