Mukilteo Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Ed Bremer, longtime voice of public radio station KSER, passed away at his home in Everett on Dec. 22, 2020, with his loving wife Lucia by his side.

Edward Charles Bremer was born in Illinois in 1952.

After graduating from Eastern Illinois University, Ed got his start in broadcasting at two different stations in Charleston, Illinois. In 1977 he moved to San Diego where he worked for an NPR affiliate.

Ed met his wife, Lucia, in San Diego. They both moved to Spokane in 1987.

But their life changed dramatically in 1990 when Ed was given the opportunity to become the Public Affairs Director at a brand new radio station that was about to be launched in Snohomish County: KSER.

Ed ended up making a long career and hundreds of important relationships in the region.

For nearly three decades Ed was the driving force behind the growth and development of KSER, including its transition from the Jack Straw Foundation to the KSER Foundation, and the station's move to downtown Everett.

While he held many titles at KSER – Public Affairs Director; News Director; General Manager – Ed actually did every job at KSER. During several challenging years he became the only employee, training and directing a dedicated team of community volunteers.

He mentored hundreds of volunteers and helped people whose voices were often marginalized find a platform on KSER.

Ed was instrumental in training volunteers to create programs such as The League of Women Voters Magazine of the Air; Communities of Color Coalition; Amnesty International; Sound Living the Healthy Edition and many more.

In addition to also adding programs like Democracy Now and Thom Hartmann to the KSER lineup, Ed also spearheaded the addition of a second station for the KSER Foundation: KXIR, 89.9 FM on Whidbey Island.

In addition to his wife, Ed is survived by five brothers – four in Illinois and one in Michigan.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life when it's appropriate for public gatherings. KSER is also planning to air a tribute to the life and legacy of Ed Bremer in the near future.