Obituary
Matt Hanlon Passes at 63
The MAB is passing along the sad news that longtime Michigan broadcasting executive Matt Hanlon passed away unexpectedly this past Tuesday (10/20) from an apparent heart attack. He spent decades in radio management, sales and operations, overseeing major market clusters and helping develop regional programming networks. Hanlon was perhaps best known for his leadership at Citadel Broadcasting, where he served as Midwest Division President.
Read MoreRetired WNEM-TV Weathercaster Eric Jylha Dies at 76
Jylha began his career in radio, working at stations WBCM, WXOX, WGER and WSGW. At WXOX, he served as air personality, news reporter and eventually news director. He joined WSGW in 1982, doing news and on-air work.
Read MoreKalamazoo Broadcasting Legend Lori Moore Passes
Moore’s career started in 1981 doing news part-time at WKMI after she graduated from Hope College that spring and she soon became full-time there for several years before joining WKZO in the early 1990s.
Read MoreKevin Sanderson: 1956-2026
This past Monday, (8/17). Former Battle Creek/Ann Arbor/Detroit air personality Kevin Sanderson passed away at age 70, following a brief illness. He began his career at Keener 14 (WKFR-AM) in Battle Creek, and later worked for radio stations in Jackson, Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan.
Read MoreRenowned 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 More