Loni Ding was a remarkable person. A highly dedicated award winning independent filmmaker, Loni made a wonderful series of films over the decades. Her work on the Asian American experience leaves a rich legacy of creative and moving documentaries, including on the immigration of Chinese to America [“Ancestors in the Americas”] and the Japanese Americans who served in World War II [“Nisei Soldier” and “The Color of Honor”]. She also produced the pioneering public TV children’s series Bean Sprouts. Loni played an important role in the early history of public television, including her work for “Open Studio” at San Francisco station KQED. Loni saw the unfulfilled promise of public television to serve the public interest and the arts, and she did everything in her power to make PBS a more responsible programming service.
Loni just passed away after a long illness I was told. One of her most important accomplishments was the work to establish the Independent Television Service (ITVS) during the 1980’s. She was one of our most important congressional witnesses, and lobbied tirelessly. Loni always had time to help organize and convince people that public TV needed a structural change in its funding system. The result was a unique funding organization for independent producers that has supported many important films over the years. I know Loni was also a wonderful wife and parent of two children she loved dearly. She was also a friend.
Loni Ding’s creative work–especially her films–and her political efforts–the ITVS and more–will help serve as a living memorial to a remarkable life.
