Thursday, February 19, 2015

Ralph Augenfeld, a longtime and pioneering engineer at WPIX-TV, Dead at 64

Ralph Augenfeld
Ralph Augenfeld


Ralph Augenfeld, a longtime and pioneering engineer at WPIX-TV, died unexpectedly on Monday. He was 64.
Augenfeld began his career at WPIX  in 1979 as a maintenance engineer.  Soon thereafter, he became WPIX’s first ever News Engineer in Charge (EIC) and in the late 1990s was promoted to Engineering Manager.

Paul Brenner with Ralph Augenfeld
Paul Brenner with Ralph Augenfeld
During his long career at the station,  Ralph was involved in many WPIX technical firsts, from the launch of the TV PIX video game contest in 1980 to the design and implementation of the very first COFDM Digital News Helicopter.

Many of his efforts continue to benefit WPIX-TV today, including the station’s Citigroup Building and North Shore microwave receives sites.

“Although Ralph left WPIX in 2005 to accept a Director of Engineering position at the UN, he always considered himself always and forever a “PIX Lifer”.  Ralph Augenfeld, of Brooklyn,  is survived by his daughter Britt and son Zach.




A service will be held for Ralph this Friday, Feb. 20 beginning at 2 pm at the following address: 135 Eastern Parkway, Apt. 3C Brooklyn, NY  11238.  Shiva will be held at the same location on Saturday, Feb. 21 & Sunday, Feb. 22 from 10 am to 6 pm on both days.

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