Extended Interview with Ruth Friendly

The Full Interview Conducted by Film Director Lesley Topping for our Film, From the First Schoolhouse: A Scarsdale Story

Ruth Friendly, a former Scarsdale elementary school teacher and award-winning television producer, discusses her teaching career and her work with her late husband, Fred Friendly, a pioneer of broadcast journalism.

About Ruth Friendly

Ruth was raised in Manhattan by her parents Herman and Henrietta Weiss. Herman, a Bloomingdale's executive, had been with the company since 1914.

A graduate of Smith College (1945) and Teachers College, Columbia University (1957), her first career was as a faculty member in the Scarsdale School District, where she taught and worked on curriculum development for over fifteen years.  With husband Sandor Mark, she raised three children in the Quaker Ridge neighborhood. Son Jonathan Mark went on to serve as the Mayor of Scarsdale from 2015 to 2017.

Ruth’s students after a performance of their original play based on the 1735 trial of John Peter Zenger. A true story based in colonial New York, the landmark legal case that established the foundations of freedom of the press in America. Credit: Ruth Friendly, 1982.

Widowed at an early age, she subsequently met and married Fred Friendly, and they merged their two families – six kids under one roof.  

Ruth with husband Fred Friendly, a television producer and former president of CBS News. Photo Credit: Ruth Friendly

Ruth began her second career in 1982, working at Media and Society Seminars, founded by her husband Fred. Starting as a researcher, she moved on to become an editor, producer, and executive producer on more than 100 hours of programming airing nationally on PBS, including The Constitution: That Delicate Balance, Managing Our Miracles: Health Care in America, Ethics in America, and That Delicate Balance II: Our Bill of Rights.

After her husband’s death in 1998, Ruth took over as Director of Media and Society Seminars, and became Vice President and Senior Editorial Director of Fred Friendly Seminars (FFS) a successor organization that took over the production responsibilities.  The FFS programs produced for PBS include Minds on the Edge, Ethics in America 2, Our Genes/Our Choices, Who Cares: Chronic Illness in America, Epidemic, and Beyond Black and White: Affirmative Action in America.  Over the years, Ruth has also produced more than 300 non-televised seminars for medical, legal, educational, governmental, and civic groups across the country. 

Ruth at her desk at the Columbia University School of Journalism in 2009, where at 85 she continued to serve as the Vice President and Editorial Director of Fred Friendly Seminars: award-winning television programs. Photo Credit: Ruth Friendly

In the 2000s, Ruth served for eight years as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission of Nomination, Court of Appeals. She also served as a panel member for the Disciplinary Committee of the Appellate Division, New York Supreme Court.  She is an active board member of Riverdale Senior Services and Riverdale Neighborhood House.

Ruth delights in sharing her free time with her six children and their families, including ten amazing grandchildren, and five prized great-grandchildren.

Extended Interview with Ruth Friendly

Exclusive Content From From the First Schoolhouse: A Scarsdale Story

A Revolutionary ScarsTales is Here!

In this Revolutionary-themed episode of ScarsTales, Lori Rothman, Leslie Chang, and Jordan Copeland explore Scarsdale’s Revolutionary War-era history as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence. The conversation reframes Scarsdale not as the site of major battlefield glory, but as a community caught in the dangerous “neutral ground” between British forces in New York City and Patriot forces to the north. Jordan explains how local families endured raids, displacement, stolen livestock, and the daily instability of war.

The episode also looks at everyday life in early Scarsdale, from farming and hog management to road maintenance and communal responsibilities. A major section addresses Scarsdale’s history of slavery, including the role enslaved people played in building the town and the limited records that remain. Leslie then discusses the Historical Society’s oral history initiative and the search for recordings from a similar 1980s project. The episode closes with a preview of upcoming Revolutionary War-themed events, including Tavern 250 at Wayside Cottage.

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TUNE IN

Toast 250! at Wayside Cottage - Sunday, June 14th

Wayside Cottage is the place to be on Sunday, June 14th, from 2 - 6 PM! 

Hosted by RW250 and the Junior League of Central Westchester, this lively Revolutionary-era tavern experience celebrates the Semiquincentennial (1776-2026) and the 325th anniversary of Scarsdale with music and merriment for all ages.

At Scarsdale Village’s oldest landmark, we’ll celebrate where the Varian family faced ever-present danger from Loyalist and British attacks during the Revolutionary War years.

FEATURING

Visits from: Martha Washington ★ British General Howe ★ Patriot Col. John Glover ★ …and More

Music by The Liberty Three

Games Hosted by Philipse Manor Hall

Quill Pen Writing

Weaving Demonstrations

Musket Drills with the 5th New York Regiment

Wayside Cottage Tours

Recognition of Witness Stones Project Honoring Those Once Enslaved

American Revolution Trivia—The Westchester Edition! (4:00 PM)

Tavern Fare and Libations for Purchase at the Captain Lawrence Food Truck

Colonial Sweets, Including Flag Day Treats for Kids

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FREE ADMISSION

📆 Date: Sunday, June 14
2:00 - 6:00 PM
Wayside Cottage at 1039 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY

All Ages Welcome

Episode 3 of ScarsTales is Here!

In this episode of ScarsTales, hosts Laurie Rothman, Leslie Chang, and Jordan Copeland explore two deeply interconnected narratives: the founding and evolution of the Scarsdale Historical Society and the historical experience of Jewish residents in Scarsdale, New York.

The discussion traces how historic preservation efforts emerged in response to the demolition of a landmark home in the mid-20th century, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Scarsdale Historical Society in 1973. The episode also examines shifting community dynamics, including early Jewish settlement, social barriers, and key turning points that fostered greater inclusion.

Blending archival research, personal anecdotes, and cultural analysis, the episode highlights how local history reflects broader societal trends—and why preserving it remains essential today.

We hope you’ll subscribe, rate, and review to help these stories reach more listeners.

TUNE IN

Recap: The Scarsdale Bowl & Our Spotlight Award

What a night at the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner. We’re still taking it all in—and so grateful to the Scarsdale Foundation for recognizing our volunteer work in such a meaningful way.

Scarsdale Historical Trustees in attendance for the evening. Credit: Andi Schreiber

From the moment the evening began, there was a real sense of community in the room—neighbors, friends, and supporters all coming together to celebrate service and impact.

Scarsdale Historical Society Trustees with Special guests. Front l to r: Lori Rothman, Jordan Copeland, Dan Glauber (Local History Librarian, Scarsdale Public Library), Deborah Skolnik, Lesley Topping (Filmmaker). Back l to r: Christine Weston, Leslie Chang, Randy Guggenhimer, May Cowan, Shivi Bansal, Marc Cheshire (Communications) and Peter Blier. Credit: Andi Schreiber

Receiving the Spotlight Award was truly an honor, and one we share with our entire board. We especially missed those who couldn’t be there with us in person—they were very much part of this moment. We were delighted to be joined by three key collaborators who contribute meaningfully to our work: Dan Glauber (Local History Librarian from Scarsdale Public Library), filmmaker Lesley Topping, and Marc Cheshire (Communications).

We were also honored to be recognized alongside the night’s top honoree, the incredible Terri Simon, whose contributions continue to inspire so many in our community.

Bowl winner Terri Simon with Scarsdale Bowl Committee Chair, Pam Fuehrer. Credit: Andi Schreiber

And beyond the recognition, what made the evening even more meaningful was its purpose: supporting scholarships for those in need. It’s a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with generosity and intention.

Credit: Andi Schreiber

Thank you again to the Scarsdale Foundation for a memorable evening—and to everyone who makes this work possible. We’re proud to be part of a community that shows up for one another.

Our President Randy Guggenheimer when he accepted the Spotlight Award from Pam Feuhrer. Credit: Andi Schreiber

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WATCH NOW: A History of Jewish People in Scarsdale

A History of Jewish People in Scarsdale traces the community's Jewish history from a marginal presence with limited civic participation to full integration within Scarsdale's social and civic life. Drawing on original research and incorporating broader historical context, Village Historian and Scarsdale Historical Society Vice President Jordan Copeland examines why Scarsdale attracted a significant Jewish population, how Scarsdale's Jewish settlement differed from neighboring communities, and the obstacles Jewish residents faced along the way, offering a nuanced account of both progress and challenge.

Recorded on Monday, April 6 | 7:00 PM. The event was co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Public Library.