Audrey Ross Berman

Audrey Ross Berman, age 87, died peacefully on the night of March 24, 2021, after a long and valiant struggle with dementia.

Audrey was born in 1934 in Brooklyn, NY to Sybil and Harry Ross, younger sister to Babette Kasmir and Marvin Ross. Around 1939, the family moved to Washington, D.C. Audrey attended American University for a year, before meeting her future husband, Stanley Berman. The couple moved with their young son, Alec, to New Rochelle, NY, where he was joined by his younger sister, Sharon.

Audrey began work at The Village Voice in Manhattan in the late 1960s, where she rose through the ranks from secretary to Managing Editor. During her time at The Voice, Audrey emceed the Obie Awards, Off-Broadway’s equivalent to the Tony’s, where rumor has it, she was propositioned (unsuccesfully) by Groucho Marx!

Audrey left The Voice in 1977 and served as Managing Editor at the short-lived magazine, Politicks & Other Human Interests. She then became managing editor at Channels of Communications, a TV-trade magazine, from 1978 until 1985, when it was bought, and killed, by Norman Lear.

Audrey then took the opportunity to move to Santa Barbara, CA, where she became founding executive editor of the Santa Barbara Independent, serving as Managing Editor until her retirement in 2004. She created the Independent Theater Awards, affectionately known as the Indys.

Audrey retired from the Independent around the year 2004, when she began to experience cognitive difficulties. Eventually, she moved to the Bay Area to be closer to her daughter.

Audrey’s marriage ended in divorce. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Berman, her son, Alec Berman (and his wife, Kara Donahue); their children, Arthur, Olivia and Ethan Berman; nephews Seton Kasmir, Gray Garrett, and David Ross, and nieces Jan Kasmir and Debbie Ross Shahar.

There is no funeral planned. If you would like to make a donation in her memory, please consider a local food bank.