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REMEMBERING BOB
We couldn’t capture all of Bob’s activities and antics in pictures, but over the years, we were able to get some photos that illustrated his joie de vivre and quest to bring the power of ideas of freedom to the world. Click on the individual images to read the captions.
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Producer Jim Taylor prepares to film an interview between Bob Chitester and a student during the 2009 Winning Ideas Weekend. Fundraising was in Bob's blood since the early days at WQLN auctions. In 1982, Bob doubled the size of WQLN offices in the early days with side-by-side trailers, accommodating the rapid expansion of the station. As the station grew, the WQLN staff increased as well. Bob was an avid runner and participated in a number of races. Here, he is joined in 2015 by his son, Mark, and his grandson, Andrew, for his last race at the Hamot 10K Mayor's Cup. Working on productions brought Bob in contact with poor villagers as well as world leaders. While filming Turmoil & Triumph: The George Shultz Years, he met President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. Pictured here (L to RT): Elle deVries, former Secretary of State George Shultz, Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, Producer David deVries, Executive Producer Bob Chitester, and former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. Kelsey Schupp, daughter of Free To Choose Network's COO Tara Schupp, taking a selfie with employees and family members who joined Bob in the UPMC Hamot Hospital's 10k Mayor's Cup in 2014. Bob Chitester's background is theatre, and he never held back when it came time for the WQLN's annual auction. Employees of Free To Choose Network: Bobby Range, Bob Chitester, Michael Kraus, granddaughter Emily Behrendt, Tara Schupp, Ellen Woodward, and Susan Gable, who joined Bob in the UPMC Hamot Hospital's 10k Mayor's Cup in 2014. After conceiving the idea of Dead Wrong over a pasta dinner in Washington, D.C., Bob traveled to Sweden to help set up the first episodes of the weekly YouTube phenomenon. Bob discusses The Invisible Hand with "Adam Smith" at the launch of The Real Adam Smith: A Personal Exploration by Johan Norberg at International House at the University of Chicago in 2016. Erie, PA, can thank Bob Chitester for orchestrating a public television station in its community. While there was a desire for a public television station, Bob was the only person who had the knowledge on how to bring it about. Construction permits were granted in 1966, but government grants required WQLN to be on air by Aug. 13, 1967. It went on air at 6 pm, despite not having a studio, camera, or microphone. "Adam Smith" was employed to entertain guests and make an introduction at the launch of The Real Adam Smith: A Personal Exploration by Johan Norberg. Guests watched the documentary, followed by a panel discussion with Bob Chitester, Johan Norberg, "Adam Smith," former Director of the Adam Smith Society at the Manhattan Institute Alison Mangiero, and Co-Producers Jim Taylor and Barbara Potter. Bob Chitester was included in the "100 Most Influential Libertarians" list, which appeared in the June 2017 issue of Reason. A month later, at FreedomFest 2017, many of those on the list gathered for a photo. Bob also had a lively main stage interview with Kennedy at that FreedomFest. Emmy award-winner Thomas Skinner and Bob have been producing programs together for Free To Choose Network for more than 40 years. "From the Carnegie Report and before, Bob Chitester and I have shared the dream of what public television could be. We were both there at the creation of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and of PBS. Because his ideas did not mirror theirs, many in our business considered Bob a "maverick," but I would call him a "champion" who believed so deeply in his ideas and principles that, against all odds, he alone brought them to fruition. I know of no single individual who has made the kind of contribution to public television as has my friend and colleague, Bob Chitester." ~ Tom Skinner Christmas was always a special time for Bob, and he brought his festive spirit into the office. From dressing up to regaling employees with signing The Christmas Song, Bob always made it a joyful time. Bob received his own version of Elf on the Shelf when he was presented with "Bob Jr." Made by a staff member, Bob Jr. was presented to Bob Sr. on the 15th anniversary of WQLN, and it reportedly got a promotion every year. Bob poses with the individual to whom he entrusted to continue the legacy of Free To Choose Network, Rob Chatfield. Bob Chitester, Bob McTeer, former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Thomas F. Siems, Ph.D. Senior Economist and Policy Advisor Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Between scenes during filming of The Power of Choice, Bob chats with Milton and Rose Friedman. Educator Scott Harris, Bob Chitester, and Producer Jim Tusty enjoy a beach outing while taking a break during a Producers’ Meeting. The crisp, clean Vermont air and lively student discussions at Capitaf invigorated Bob every time.
Bob Chitester was game for anything that would either entertain or raise money! In June 1980, Bob received an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Literature Department Chair Paul Zolbrod at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. Bob and his sideburns have been friends with Walter Williams for many years. Here, Bob regales Walter, Ed Feulner, and Don Lambro with producing tales. From left to right: Louis Rukeyser, Bob Chitester, Walter McClure, while filming Money and Medicine production shots at AMSCO in Erie, PA. A horse eavesdrops on a conversation Bob was having with Norman Borlaug and Bert Warnshuis during the filming of The Pennsylvania Farmer in Erie, PA. The Damn Right production crew in New York City: Bob Chitester, Patti Wyss, Tom Bush, Denise Nolan, David Asman, and Victor Verhaeghe. Bill Shine and Bob go over production ideas for Damn Right on the set in New York City. Bob and Dennis Deal take a break on the set of Damn Right, in New York City. The production team for Race for the Presidency gathers for a photo on a beautiful sunny day in Denver, Colorado. John Andrews, David Asman, Vince Carroll, Bob Chitester, Milton Friedman, Rose Friedman, Morie Kiusalaas, Clifford May, Debra Saunders, Phil Weinstein. 1995. At a 1999 dinner honoring John Stossel, Bob Chitester joined J.R. Clark, and Scott L.Probasco Jr., at the Walden Club in Chattanooga, TN. Rick Platt, Cindee Behrendt, John Adams, Tara Schupp, Bob Chitester, and Jenni Irving attending Cato Institute's 2006 Friedman Prize Dinner in Chicago, IL. Bob was invited to speak at many events and functions over the years, and he always included at least one poem and maybe even a song or two. Well-dressed man, Bob Chitester, at Board member Chris Rufer's 2008 Christmas party. Wearing his producer hat, Bob Chitester fine-tunes footage for his latest project. Running was Bob's choice of exercise, and for a number of years, he ran 10 miles a day. Bob Chitester and former Secretary of State George Shultz became good friends and, together, produced Turmoil & Triumph: The George Shultz Years, a three-part series for public television. Bob is on set for a test taping with Tibor Machan for The Love of Work: Karl Marx. The relationship between Milton Friedman and Bob Chitester was very close. Bob considered Milton a second father. Bob Chitester, founder of WQLN, and Tom New, current President of WQLN, connected at a January 2020 Rotary Club gathering in Erie, PA. Bob receives his Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from Kristin Stehouwer, Ph.D., Academic Vice President & Provost, and Dr. Kent MacDonald, President of Northwood University. Anyone who knows Bob knows that every meeting, speech, or dinner is not complete without a song or poem. Northwood University received both from him that day.
Bob Chitester and Norman Borlaug, October 2004. The annual staff picnics at Free To Choose Network have always been a great time to meet staff families and have some fun. This one is from 2005. The 2010 Winning Ideas Weekend in San Francisco included a tour of the Anchor Steam Brewery with Fritz Maytag. At the 2011 Producer Retreat, Free To Choose Network Producers Tom Skinner, David deVries, and Jim Taylor, among others, join Bob in a shootout. Bob and Tom Skinner discuss ideas at the 2019 Producers Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Three generations working to build a better world: Bob Chitester, granddaughter Marley Behrendt, and daughter Cindee Behrendt. At the 2012 Winning Ideas Weekend, Bob negotiates with students during the Win-Win Game. Bob stops in the office to gaze at his favorite photo of Milton Friedman and him. Bob's sideburns, circa the 1980s. Bob produced the programs, then Robyn De Shields and Paul Malkie, from De Shields & Associates, worked to get public television programmers to schedule them. Here, they meet up during the 2017 Producers’ Meeting. Bob Chitester and his daughter, Cindee Behrendt, who serves as vice president of administration, have been working together harmoniously (mostly) for more than 30 years. What would a meeting with Bob be without singing? He is joined in song here by Teacher Hazel Johnston at the 2012 Winning Ideas Weekend. On the set of Conversations with George Shultz, Bob and the former Secretary of State have a conversation. The 2010 staff Christmas party put everyone in jolly green jackets. A "retirement" party was held for Bob on April 7, 2017. Even though he spoke about retiring at his party, there was no measurable evidence of Bob actually slowing down. The entire Free To Choose Network staff, producers, family, and Board members turned out to wish Bob well in his retirement while harboring skepticism about Bob's actual retiring. Jean Adams, Carol & Bob Chitester, and John Adams. John worked with Bob in the early 1980s at WQLN. After retiring, John continued to help Free To Choose Network with fundraising. Bob hired Tara Schupp to be his assistant in 1981. Her goal was to last at least five years. Four decades later, Tara is keeping everyone on track as the vice president of production and chief operating officer of the organization. Free To Choose Network Board members Ron Muhlenkamp and Elizabeth Rose attended Bob Chitester's retirement party in Pittsburgh. If it was up to Bob, every meal would be some version of Asian cuisine...and sitting on the floor. Pictured right to left: Fritz Maytag (in back), Tara Schupp, Bob Chitester, John Chisholm (in back), Tawni Ferrarini, Howard Wall, Eric Miller (in back), Chris Cheng, Rob Chatfield, Tom Hazlett, and Beverly Maytag. January 2020. Bob Chitester looks through one of the many programs archived in the Free To Choose Network Archival Media Room. The room houses more than 500 hours of programming. Famed author and economist Thomas Sowell and Bob step outside to take a break from filming.
A Second Amendment enthusiast, Bob Chitester enjoyed introducing shooting to those attending staff retreats. On his way through the office, Bob stops in front of an editing computer at just the right moment. Actor Scott Bakula and Bob Chitester discuss ideas on set while filming Everyone's Space, a popular izzit.org video. Let the magic begin! Bob entertains and educates attendees at the 2017 FeeCon in Atlanta, with his session on Hogwarts and the Libertarian Wizards. At the 2017 FeeCon in Atlanta, Bob Chitester conducted an unforgettable (and well-attended) session entitled, "Hogwarts and the Libertarian Wizards," in which he brought out some of the Libertarian themes in the best-selling books. He did it in a wizard gown and a wand that he whittled himself! Bob and Dave Padden, former Free To Choose Network Chairman of the Board. (Right to left in front) Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, Rose Friedman, Guilty Nashat, (Left to right in back) Lou Richards, Bob Chitester, Stan Zltokowski, Michael Brown, Todd Brooks during a film shoot for the Liberty Fund. Milton Friedman, Bob Chitester, and Tara Schupp recording the Free To Choose open with George Shultz (not in picture) in 1990. Milton and Rose Friedman have a conversation with Bob's sideburns. Sam Bowels, Bob Chitester, Milton Friedman, Phil Cooper, and Gary Becker while filming Free To Choose production shots in San Francisco, CA, 1990. Bob and Milton Friedman discuss ideas on the set of the three-part series, Tyranny of the Status Quo. Bob Chitester and Thomas Sowell while filming Free To Choose production shots in San Francisco, CA, 1990. A dapper Bob Chitester in 1990. Bob Chitester and Tara Schupp working in the production office in San Francisco, CA, 1990. Bob Chitester and Thomas Skinner were included in a 1968 group shot of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network. Bob didn't keep banker's hours. Here he is working from his country home in McKean long before work-from-home became the norm. Bob Chitester, Tara Schupp, and his daughter, Cindee Behrendt, have worked together for more than 30 years, building an organization that changed the world. The project Turmoil and Triumph was a huge (and successful) undertaking. Here, Executive Producers Bob Chitester and Thomas Skinner flank Producer David DeVries at a project dinner and preview in January 2010. Bob Ames, Brad Drumheller, Steven Allen, and Bob Chitester recording the opening of Free To Choose in 1990 While in Colorado filming Race for the Presidency in 1996, the staff took a break and climbed a nearby mountain. Here, Tara Schupp, Bob Chitester, and Linda DeAngelo enjoyed a Rocky Mountain high. Replicating the photo of Milton and Rose Friedman, Bob and his wife Carol take in the view at Capitaf. Today, a bronze sculpture of Milton and Rose takes up the bench. Cindee Behrendt, Bob's daughter, began working full-time at Free To Choose Network in 1986. Here, she and Bob are participating in a Christmas sing-along with the staff. It was Bob’s dream to create a place for students to learn about Milton Friedman and discuss ideas. His dream came true when this group arrived from the University of Arkansas for the first week-long colloquium at Capitaf. New FTCN board member, Wes Kemp (front left) was instrumental in bringing them.
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