Obituary
Renowned WXYZ-TV Photojournalist Johnny Sartin Dies After Cancer Battle
Born Johnny Nelson Sartin Jr., he spent 30 years at 7 News Detroit following stops in Mississippi, Oklahoma City and WDIV-TV in Detroit. He traveled the country early on in his career, covering mudslides and wild weather with WXYZ meteorologist Jerry Hodak in the 1990s, and spent weeks documenting the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with reporters Ray Sayah and Bill Spencer.
Read MoreThe Appliance Doctor: Joe Gagnon Dies at 84
Joe Gagnon, known to generations of radio listeners as “The Appliance Doctor,” died Thursday (8/13) at age 84. Gagnon built a broadcasting career that combined appliance expertise, consumer advocacy, and practical advice, becoming a familiar voice on 760 WJR-AM (Detroit) and radio stations across the country for more than 25 years.
Read MoreWest Michigan Christian Radio Pioneer Les Lanser Dies
The MAB has learned that longtime West Michigan Christian radio owner Les Lanser passed away July 30th at the age of 91. Lanser, along with his family, own WPNW-AM/WJQK-FM in Zeeland.
Read MoreFormer Michigan Air Talent/Programmer Craig Russell Passes at 56
Russell spent most of his career in radio here in Michigan, working at stations such as WKPK-FM (Gaylord), WFCX/WFDX-FM (Traverse City), WFGR-FM (Grand Rapids), WKHM-FM (Jackson), WUPS-FM (Houghton Lake) and WHMI-FM (Howell). He also held positions in his long career in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Read MoreBill Gallagher, Longtime WJBK-TV Reporter Dies
Bill Gallagher, a beloved former reporter for WJBK-TV (Detroit) who spent decades covering news for the station, has died. Gallagher, 79, had been dealing with “a number of health issues,” the station reported Friday, July 24, and had been living at home in Lewiston, New York, under hospice care.
Read MoreFormer WSGW Reporter Bill Hewitt Passes at 78
Bill Hewitt, longtime WSGW-AM/FM (Saginaw) reporter, producer and anchor died this past Monday (7/20) at Bay City Comfort Care. Known for his early-morning shifts and steady voice, he helped keep mid-Michigan listeners informed for decades.
Read More1950s-1960s Detroit TV Kids Host Johnny Ginger Passes
WXYZ-TV reported on July 9 that Galen Grindle, the Toledo-born entertainer who became a Detroit television legend under the stage name Johnny Ginger, died on July 5.
Read MoreRadio Roger Signs Off: R.I.P. Roger Hoppe II
The MAB is sad to report the passing of longtime Michigan broadcaster Roger Hoppe II. Hoppe passed away at age 57 early this past Monday morning (7/6) from prostate cancer. Hoppe had owned stations in Bear Lake and Beulah, Michigan as well as well as stations in Craig and Limon, Colorado. Radio’s Best Friend, Art Vuolo, Jr. shares his memories of his friend.
Read MoreFormer Northern Michigan Broadcaster Rick Stone Passes at 78
He owned and operated eight radio stations over the course of his 40-years radio career. His interest in broadcasting began with his favorite college summer job at WSPD radio in Toledo. He also did engineering for the U of M student radio and TV stations. In 1977, Rick formed Stone Broadcasting Co. and purchased his first radio station, WOXY in Oxford, Ohio.
Read MoreDetroit Sports Broadcasting Icon Pat Caputo Dies at 67
Longtime Detroit sports radio host and columnist Pat Caputo passed away Thursday (5/7) after a battle with cancer at the age of 67. In a post on social media, Caputo’s family said he died following a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer revealed earlier this year.
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