She was stern yet kind. She was disciplined to the point of demanding, yet she had empathy for less talented colleagues and for the dispossessed that she covered during her long career in television around the world.
She possessed a keen sense of story, she was creative, and she was modest to a fault. She was never boastful of her achievements, including her three Emmys. Marlene Sanders rarely, if ever, made reference to the fact that she was the first woman to anchor a prime-time network newscast - for ABC, in 1964 - and she was also the first network TV woman journalist to report from Vietnam, in 1966, and the first female vice-president of a news division at ABC, back in 1976.
It is impossible to accept that Marlene Sanders has done her last broadcast: she died of cancer Tuesday at age 84.
Her son, CNN legal analyst and New Yorker staff writer Jeffrey Toobin said: "She was a pioneering broadcaster and, above all, a great Mom."
Yes, that she was. Marlene was also a wonderful friend to me. Back in 1989, when I decided to dive into documentary produced for public television, I turned to Marlene for guidance. She did much more than merely share her experiences: she joined my not-for-profit enterprise as anchor of nearly 50 documentaries that we filmed in 35 mostly developing countries.
The narrative thread running through those documentaries was the link between gender parity, better education for women and children, and sustainable development that would empower women through employment. They also happened to be subjects very close to Marlene's heart.
She had a very large heart. During down time on the road, she would often visit the homes of poor people who'd invited her for a meal. Invariably, Marlene would carry toys or some other appropriate gift. There were occasions in places like Indonesia when I spotted her teaching young local women how to appear before TV cameras; indeed, so extensive was her knowledge of TV technology, that Marlene would sometimes speak to local youths about camera angles, picture composition, and the use of light. This was all spontaneous. She was naturally drawn to young people, particularly who displayed interest in mass communications.
In later years, after her career in network television had ended, Marlene formalized her love of teaching as an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University. She wrote a highly regarded book, "Waiting For Prime Time." She gave lectures. She indulged her two grandchildren. I sometimes wondered where all that kinetic energy came from - but I need not have wondered because the answer was obvious: Marlene had passion, Marlene was a romantic about journalism, Marlene was keen to share her hard-won experience with young people.
One could say that these characteristics flowed from the midwestern values she absorbed while growing up in Cleveland. One could also say that these characteristics were strengthened during her long, tough years in New York's hyper competitive world of communications.
But her toughness was a veneer: at heart, Marlene Sanders was a kind woman who melted at the sight of children playing, or destitute people in hovels of distant countries. I know: I witnessed this other side of Marlene in many places that most outsiders could barely pronounce, let alone spell.
So Marlene is gone. But just as it's impossible to accept that finality, it's also impossible that the knowledge, the know-how, the values of professionalism and integrity that she imbued in generations of young people would evaporate.
Marlene Sanders is forever. When I think of her now, I don't shed tears but, instead, I smile. How very fortunate I was to have been a participant in the adventure of her life, even if for just episodes here and there. But they were precious moments, and those moments with Marlene are forever, too.