Evelyn Shatkin

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Evelyn Shatkin passed away peacefully April 2, following a brief illness. The Rhode Island-based public relations consultant promoted campaigns for Trinity Repertory, Weight Watchers, American Cancer Society, Providence Adult Education, United Way, Hearing and Speech, WJAR-TV, Corporation for National Service/RI, and VISTA volunteers in AmeriCorps programs. 

The Emerson College graduate launched a lifelong career in news media as host Evelyn Howe of the “Five O’Clock Follies” on Boston’s CBS radio station in the mid-1940s, including exclusive interviews with “Satchmo” Armstrong, Oscar Hammerstein II, Victor Borge, Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller and Arthur Godfrey, and appeared on Godfrey’s New York program. Evelyn co-produced programs for national “We The People” broadcasts and received a special award from Massachusetts Governor Tobin for helping to organize shows for armed forces throughout New England.

She was born in New York City, daughter of the late Edward and Mollie Bergman. She was married to the late Perry Shatkin, former chief legal counsel, Rhode Island Tax Division. She is survived by two daughters: Susan Shatkin of Bristol and Dr. Jo Anne Shatkin of Boston. She was the sister of Janet Dobrer of Hackensack, N.J., mother of the late Lenore Richardson Holze, and sister of the late Walter Bergman of Lancaster, Pa. She had two grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and a great-grandson.

Evelyn established group sales for the Warwick Musical Theatre, and directed group sales for Paramount Pictures in New York. She directed PR campaigns for the Women’s Advertising Club of RI. She and her husband helped organize the new Cranston city charter campaign, and the Cranston Committee for Better Schools. She was a member of Temple Beth-El, Providence, serving on the PR committee.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Rabbi Leslie Yale Gutterman Religious School at Temple Beth-El, or one’s favorite charity.