NAME(S) ON TILE:                 DIANA BIRKENFIELD

DONOR NAME(S):                   MITCHELL WEISMAN

Diana Birkenfield was born, raised, and educated in Pittsburgh.  After university, she began what was to become a pioneering career in broadcasting by working at the legendary WHOD-AM radio.  Before long, she left for New York, where she began producing television programs at a time when women in the field were few, and general confidence in their abilities did not run high.

In position after position, in network television for ABC, and with individual production companies, Diana proved her mettle all along the chain of responsibility.  Her varied and distinguished career culminated in a long and productive tenure with Henson Associates, the company best known for creation and production of The Muppets.  Diana’s accomplishments with The Muppets and Fraggle Rock contributed to the education and entertainment of generations of young people.  Her qualities of keen intelligence, decency, integrity and methodical precision in all her undertakings made her an invaluable partner to the Henson team, and a cherished colleague to all who worked with her.  Diana retired as an executive producer and the first woman member of the Board of Directors of Henson Associates.

After challenging and fulfilling years of living in New York and working in the U.S. and abroad, Diana chose to return to Pittsburgh, the city where her family took root a century ago.  This tribute to her, in an institution dedicated to celebrating the city as she celebrates it, has been presented by her loving nephew, Mitchell Weisman of Philadelphia, in honor of her enduring excellence and devotion.