Obituary
WEMU’s Lisa Barry Passes
The MAB is saddened to announce the passing of WEMU-FM (Ypsilanti) All Things Considered local host Lisa Barry. Barry died this past Tuesday night (11/30) due to complications from a heart condition. A graduate of Olivet College, she got her start as a morning newscast sidekick on Lansing’s WVIC-FM. Barry later joined the morning show…
Read MoreLegendary Former CKLW Music Director Dies
A woman credited with launching the music careers of many rock bands as the music director for CKLW-AM (Windsor-Detroit) (aka The Big 8) has passed away. Rosalie Trombley, a pioneer in Canadian radio died peacefully Tuesday (11/23) at the age of 82, according to reports from the station. Trombley started her career as a switchboard…
Read MoreDetroit Rock Radio Personality John O’Leary Dead at 67
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the MAB learned of the tragic death of Detroit radio personality John O’Leary. O’Leary, who was 67, had been missing for nearly a week. Friends told the Detroit Free Press that he wasn’t returning phone calls and was missing meetings about upcoming projects all while his Facebook page went dormant. O’Leary…
Read MoreFormer WMLM Owner Passes
WMLM-AM (Alma) founder and former owner Gregory William Siefker passed away at age 76 on November 10. Siefker, a resident of nearby St. Louis, moved to Gratiot County in 1977 and fullfilled his dream to start his own radio. On December 15, 1977, he signed on WMLM-AM 1520 AM, “The Big M,” and operated the…
Read MoreKelly Rossman-McKinney Dies After Cancer Battle
Longtime Lansing-based pubic relations professional Kelly Rossman-McKinney passed away this past Tuesday (11/9) at age 67. Rossman-McKinney began her career as a legislative secretary in 1979 and worked in both the Michigan House and Senate before joining the administration of former Governor James Blanchard to serve as the communications director for the newly created Michigan…
Read MoreFormer Congressman Dale Kildee Has Died
Former Michigan Rep. Dale Kildee, who represented his hometown of Flint and the surrounding area in Congress for 36 years, died Wednesday (10/13) at 92. His death was announced by his nephew, Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI 5th District), who succeeded him after his 2012 retirement. Dale Kildee, also a Democrat, was elected to the House…
Read MoreWilliam Palmer Pyle: 1937-2021
As we announced last Friday at press time, W. Palmer Pyle, former President and Founder of Northern Star Broadcasting, passed away September 30th, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on June 12th, 1937, in Keokuk, Iowa to William and Cathryn [Johnson] Pyle, and was the oldest of three boys.…
Read MoreFormer WNEM News Anchor Passes
The MAB has learned that former WNEM-TV (Saginaw) News Anchor Allison Payne passed away September 1 at age 57. Payne began in television news as an intern at WNWO-TV (Toledo). Within months was promoted to main anchor of the station’s late evening newscast. Payne later moved to WNEM-TV as the co-anchor of the 6 and…
Read MoreRetired MSU Journalism Professor William (Bill) Cote, who directed CNS, Dies
Dr. William E. Coté, a retired journalism professor who influenced the careers of hundreds of Michigan State University students and a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, died this past Monday (8/30) at age 81. Coté was born July 14, 1940 in Jackson, MI, the son of Mervin and Maybelle (Crosthwaite) Coté. He…
Read MoreDennis Mitchell: 1963-2021
Flint area broadcaster Dennis Mitchell passed away August 17 at age 58, after a long battle with cancer. Mitchell was the morning show host at WQUS-FM (Lapeer/Flint/) in the early 2000s. He later worked for WRSR-FM (Owosso/Flint) and also served as the Commercial Production Director for Cumulus Broadcasting Company’s Flint radio group. Mitchell, born Dennis…
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