Former WGN Host Judy Markey Dies at 82
WGN, Chicago announced to listeners on Friday (9/11) that former longtime air personality Judy Markey died at age 82 in Switzerland by medically assisted suicide after years of failing health. Markey was co-host of the “Kathy and Judy Show” alongside Kathy O’Malley. Before embarking on her radio career,
Markey was a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Retired WGN news anchor Steve Bertrand – who was a regular on the “Kathy and Judy Show” – appeared on WGN’s morning show with Bob Sirott to break the news. O’ Malley addressed Markey’s passing in a post on the WGN website: “Over the years, Judy and I talked on the air several times about our support for medical aid in dying, a highly personal choice but one we felt should be available for those who chose it – and she did. With her family at her side, she peacefully ended her life at a MAID (medical aid in dying) facility in Switzerland.” Of Markey’s success on the radio, WGN notes how it all began: “On a hunch, on Super Bowl Sunday afternoon in 1989, WGN’s program director Lorna Gladstone decided to team Markey and O’Malley. No one could have anticipated they would be, as media critic Rob Feder aptly put it ‘lightning in a bottle.’ For the next two decades ‘The Girlfriends,’ as they came to be known, attracted a fiercely loyal following (of women and men) and dominated the midday ratings,” Feder wrote. “Their authentic chemistry transcended radio. No topic was off limits or too personal. Annual fan conventions and station-sponsored trips drew thousands.” See the WGN story here.

at 76 after a battle with cancer. Stone hosted the station’s “Open Line” show from 8:00 am to 11:00 am daily. KSCJ program director Justin Barker tells KTIV-TV, “Charlie was always a consummate professional and did everything to the best of his ability, lit up every room and had great charisma and great talent to be able to talk to anybody, to be able to welcome anybody.”
last week after motorcycle crash. A Facebook tribute from the station for 64-year-old Steve Gretsch said, “Steve wasn’t just part of KLFD. In a lot of ways, he was the voice of it — mornings, local sports, more commercials than any of us could count. If you called in, if your kid’s game got a shoutout, if you just needed to know what was happening in this town — chances are, Steve told you.”
analyst was just diagnosed less than two weeks ago. Detillier had prepared the following: “Last week, I was rushed to the hospital for stomach pain. After several CAT scans and tests, doctors broke the unbelievable news: I have metastatic pancreatic cancer. Stage 4. Incurable. While it’s an incredibly emotional time, I want to thank everyone – the listeners, the whole team at WWL radio and Audacy, New Orleans, and all those who put up with me over the years – from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to let me live my passion: The game of football. Hosting SportsTalk with Bobby J, Deuce, Hoss, Steve, and the whole crew – working for WWL has been the honor of a lifetime.” WWL brand manager Diane Newman comments, “Mike Detillier captured the heart of our community with his honesty, buoyant personality, and his rich and deep fact-loaded analysis. He became a reflection of this region’s pure passion for football better than just about anybody. Mike is dedicated and has a true love of the game at every level – high school, college, and NFL. And he’s navigated his role with the utmost respect and admiration for players and coaches, and you see that respect in return. His connection to them is as authentic as his accent. And, when we made that decision to put our two Cajuns together to host ‘SportsTalk,’ you could almost hear something click. When you turn the dial and put on Bobby Hebert & Mike Detillier – you’ve tuned into unbridled magic. “
Dallas, San Francisco, and Milwaukee. Former Audacy Buffalo general manager Tim Wenger posted his thoughts about Beach’s passing and wrote: “When I was asked about programming WBEN ‘back in the day’ and what I would do first, I quickly said I would go to Milwaukee and bring Sandy Beach back to Buffalo and talk radio, where he belongs. I got the job, I got Sandy, and I never looked back. Sandy quickly became an institution on WBEN and a co-worker so many cherished and loved off the microphone and respected for his unrivaled wit, intelligence, logic and even sometimes caustic sense of humor on the air. The most-asked question I get when I encounter WBEN listeners is, hands-down, ‘How is Sandy Beach?’ Susan and I had the privilege of continuing our close friendship with Sandy and I can assure you that his humor, personality and wit was with him until his brief illness took hold.”
Doctor.” His obituary says he “built a distinctive broadcasting career around consumer advocacy, home-appliance expertise and his ability to make practical advice entertaining.” His radio program was on the air for more than 25 years and was heard beyond Detroit on stations around the country. His consumer advocacy transcended radio; he worked as a fraud investigator for Detroit Consumer Affairs and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. During a live WJR broadcast from Novi, Michigan, “Radio’s Best Friend” Art Vuolo shot
producer and air personality Kenny Kott died from medical complications on Saturday (6/26). Kott was a member of “The Valenti Show with Rico.” Mike Valenti addressed Kott’s passing on Monday’s program, saying that Kott had a medical event in early June that left him hospitalized for the last few weeks and it took a turn for the worse. Valenti says, “Genuinely, I struggle to find the words for this. He’s a part of our dysfunctional family. That’s what this is.”
sports talk radio. Andelman, along with Jim McCarthy and Mark Witkin, launched “The Sports Huddle” on WBZ-AM, Boston in 1969. The show would move to Boston signals WEEI, WHDH and back to WEEI in 1991 and those who keep track of this sort of stuff say he broadcast more than 13,000 shows. Broadcast historians often refer to the program as one that “came to define the genre.” Andelman retired from radio at the end of 2010.
Former WXYT-FM, Detroit talk host and Motor City sportswriter Pat Caputo died on Thursday (5/7) after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 67. Caputo hosted in several dayparts on 97.1 The Ticket during his time with the station. He also was a contributor to WJBK-TV, Detroit. But he was initially known in the Detroit market writing for the Oakland Press from 1983 through 2020.
KFYO’s morning show. In 2021, ‘The Chad Hasty Show’ moved to late afternoons, where he continued informing and entertaining audiences across the region. Whether cutting through the news of the day or interviewing some of the most prominent political figures in the state and country, Chad always delivered an engaging and thought-provoking show for his loyal listeners.” Townsquare Media Lubbock market president Dan Endom adds, “We are stunned and heartbroken by the sudden passing of our beloved KFYO family member, Chad Hasty. Chad was not only a brilliant on-air host, but an even better friend. Our deepest condolences go out to [his wife] Jennifer and his baby girl, Ava. It’s hard to imagine not seeing his welcoming presence roaming the halls of Townsquare Media Lubbock.”
“I had a good run. I spent every cent I ever made… I would have rather saved some, but you can’t take it with you. I love you all. Thank you so much.” Barnes began his radio career in the 1980s at WEOK-WPDH in Poughkeepsie, followed by a nearly four-year run as an afternoon news anchor and reporter for WGHQ-WBPM in Kingston. He served as morning news anchor and news director for WSYR, Syracuse; worked at “All News 99.1 WNEW” in Washington, DC, as well as with USA Today Channel on SiriusXM in Washington; FOX News Radio in New York; and The Blaze Radio Network in Washington. DC.
New York, has died at age 86. According to The Grio, Law put “Night Talk” into national syndication in 1981 through the National Black Network. The piece says it was considered the first nationally broadcast Black radio talk show in the country. He began his career with WWRL in New York as a community affairs director, eventually rising to program director.
died at the age of 82. Anastos worked at the local New York affiliates of ABC, CBS and FOX. In recent years, he hosted a feature on WABC Radio titled, “Positively Ernie.” Red Apple Media Group CEO John Catsimatidis commented on Anastos’ passing saying, “Ernie was a friend for 50 years. He was always there for every charity and worked tirelessly to help people — especially New Yorkers.”
to have interviewed tens of thousands of celebrities, authors, politicians and other assorted newsmakers during his long radio career.” The Free Press obit states, “He filled a variety of roles for WJR across the decades beginning in the 1970s. Whether hosting a weekday morning or afternoon slot or doing a weekend shift, he drew fans with his friendly, upbeat style and filled ‘The Warren Pierce Show’ with a mix of interviews, movie reviews, news and weather. A dedicated fan of University of Michigan football, Pierce also did sideline reporting for WJR’s coverage of Wolverines games during the era of coach Bo Schembechler.” He left WJR in 1993 and joined WJBK-TV, Detroit as a morning news anchor.
reporter in 1974 and became an anchor in 1979, beginning a 35-year run as a morning drive and sports anchor. Countless Philadelphians came to know Donahue’s voice as he brought the news, traffic, weather, and much-longed-for snow days over the airwaves in his time at the station. He was also a fixture in the city’s sports radio scene, doing play-by-play for the Philadelphia Stars — the city’s USFL team in the 1980s — and was the TV and radio voice of Temple football and basketball for more than two decades.” Donahue retired from KYW in 2014 and was promptly inducted into the KYW Newsradio Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
host on WGBB-AM, Freeport, New York (Long Island) for more than 35 years. She appeared on major television programs including, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Good Morning America.” She also served as a columnist for Lifetime Television since. Keller’s long-running radio program with international reach established her as an enduring voice in the metaphysical and self-help space.
WTOP, Washington is announcing that its business reporter Jeff Clabaugh died last Thursday at the age of 63 after a yearlong battle with cancer. WTOP says that Clabaugh, “whose steady-paced voiceconversationally delivered money news to the D.C. region for three decades,” was “a master of consumer business news” who “gave reports twice an hour on WTOP’s airwaves and wrote punchy, popular stories for WTOP.com.” WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler wrote to the staff, “Jeff Clabaugh made WTOP’s Business Reports what they are today. His work ethic was incredible. And his voice was so smooth. He was one of the best storytellers in the WTOP newsroom.”
best known for hosting the afternoon drive show on WLW from 1981 through his retirement in 2007. He created numerous voice characters on his program, the most famous of which was Earl Pitts Uhmerikun – which took the form of a nationally syndicated commentary during his time at WLW. He also worked at stations including, WMPS, Memphis; WNOE, New Orleans; WAKY and WHAS in Louisville; and CKLW, Windsor/Detroit during his career.
ministry – has died at age 89. Dobson launched a radio program titled, “Focus on the Family” and, after leaving Focus on the Family to his successor Jim Daly in 2010, Dobson founded Family Talk and a new radio program. He later founded the James Dobson Family Institute and the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal defense firm.
anchor of the agriculture report. McCary also taught high school locally and served as a substitute teach until his retirement in 2018. KMJ says, “McCary’s background as an English teacher gave him a solid foundation as a reporter. KMJ staff could turn to him for his historical knowledge, a valuable asset and vital to a newsroom. His command of the English language was equally impressive and he often corrected bemused coworkers and hosts for any grammatical infractions.”
website: “He was our friend and co-worker at WWJ Newsradio 950 and also a friend to our listeners, bringing you the stories of the day from Detroit and across Southeast Michigan. Someone recently described him as a hero, and we can’t argue with that. We are heartbroken to share that WWJ reporter and anchor Mike Campbell died on Sunday. He was 65 years old, having just celebrated his birthday at the end of May. He was a fearless reporter, with unique style — a way of talking to and connecting with the people who were a part of the stories he told.” Campbell is survived by his wife Terri and is children. 