Karpatkin, who doubled subs at Consumer Reports, dies at 93

Rhoda Karpatkin, who doubled subscriptions at Consumer Reports during her time, died at 93 from brain cancer.

Sam Roberts of the New York Times writes, “Ms. Karpatkin, a New York lawyer and civil rights advocate, had served for 16 years as the nonprofit organization’s counsel when she was selected in 1974 as executive director, the first woman to hold that position. Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, later changed its name to Consumer Reports.

“‘Rhoda led CR to become the trusted name and consumer champion we are today,’ Marta L. Tellado, the president and chief executive of Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

“In 1993, Lear’s magazine called Ms. Karpatkin ‘the nation’s smartest shopper.’

“Under her leadership, subscriptions to the magazine, which accepts no paid advertising, more than doubled, to 4.3 million, and in 2000, the organization created what was then the largest pay website, with 350,000 subscribers.”

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