Phil Livingston, Panasonic mainstay for 28 years, passes away after battle with cancer

The broadcast technology industry lost one of its bright lights earlier this week when Phil Livingston, Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Company vice president, passed away on Nov. 8 following a battle with cancer.

Mr. Livingston was a 28-year Panasonic employee and held numerous technical positions there. Most recently he was responsible for Panasonic Broadcast’s strategic business development activities. For the last five years, he directed the company’s innovative Technology Partnering Program where he worked with more than 30 of the industry’s leading manufacturers to incorporate Panasonic’s leading digital compression technologies into their products and systems.

“Phil was tremendously respected for his knowledge and contribution in the broadcast industry. The entire Panasonic community will truly miss the invaluable contributions he made in furthering the company’s initiatives in the broadcast and production industries for over 28 years,” said John Baisley, President, Panasonic Broadcast. “Of more significance, Phil was a true gentleman and a gentle man. Our heartfelt sorrow and prayers are with his wife, Jan, and his family during this very difficult time. Phil’s memory will live on with the people of his Panasonic Broadcast family.”

Phil Livingston began his broadcast career, which spanned over four decades, in radio at WVOS and WVIP in upstate New York. He helped build WOKR-TV in Rochester, N.Y. and developed an Instructional Television system for the City School District there. Subsequently he served for 10 years as Associate Director for Instructional Resources at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

He represented Panasonic on the Board of WHD-TV, the Digital Model Station in Washington, and had been involved in the work of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) since 1987. He served on the ATSC Board of Directors from 2002 to 2006, and as Board Chairman from 2002 to 2005. He was a member of SMPTE, a SMPTE Fellow, and chaired the Committee on Television Production Technology (P-18) for two years. He wrote numerous white papers and articles, and gave many presentations throughout the United States and abroad on emerging technology. He recently received a 2006 SMPTE Award for co-authoring a paper entitled “A News Solid State Memory-based Television Acquisition System.”

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, of 140 Littleton Road, Parsippany, NJ, 07054.

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