Margaret Mary Sullivan, a longtime Maryland Public Television producer who produced award-winning cooking shows with such gastronomic legends as Julia Child, Pierre Franey and Jacques Pepin, died Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospital of complications from surgery.
The Hamilton resident was 62.
Born in Baltimore and raised on Thornberry Road in Mount Washington, Miss Sullivan graduated from Maryvale Preparatory School in 1965.
"When we were kids, she loved piling into the car and going out to the Painters Mill Music Fair to watch shows under the big tent. She loved them," recalled a brother, Jerry Sullivan of Baltimore.
"She had dabbled in plays during high school and was very active in theater productions in college," he said.
After earning a bachelor's degree in 1969 from the old Mount St. Agnes College, she worked briefly in New York before returning to Baltimore, where she joined the newly founded Center Stage.
In addition to working as a stage manager, she acted in more than 24 Center Stage productions.
In 1973, Miss Sullivan began work as a camera operator and director of commercials for WBFF-TV Channel 45.
"But it was her love for the arts and culture that led her to Maryland Public Television in 1976, which was developing a variety of programming in the nascent field of public broadcasting," said Ken Day, executive producer in arts and cultural affairs at MPT.
"She immediately began contributing as an associate producer on MPT's earliest efforts covering the arts, with shows like 'Maryland Playwrights Theater,' and later as casting director on MPT's long-running comedy series 'Crabs,' " he said.
Colleagues said Miss Sullivan was the key to the success and longevity of MPT's "The Critics Place," which during its 13-year run generated hundreds of local and regional theater reviews.
"She was smart and witty, and as a professional actor and stage manager, Margaret brought complete knowledge and unique artistic sensitivity to the coverage of the performing arts in our weekly programs as well as our many award-winning drama, music and dance television productions," said Michael Styer, former senior vice president of broadcasting at MPT.
When MPT launched an ambitious national show "On Stage At Wolftrap," Miss Sullivan was named associate producer, and in that role worked with such celebrities as Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie and Maureen McGovern.
