ALBANY — He worked for many years in the Utica/Rome market, mostly at WRCK and WTLB. Larry Oyer, who went by the name “Big Larry Williams” on the air, has died at the age of 57, following a brief illness. Calling hours and a funeral are set to take place today near Albany, but a memorial service closer to Utica has been scheduled for next weekend.
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Updated throughout on 10/21 – ALBANY — Longtime Albany radio personality Joseph Motto — better known as ”Boom Boom Brannigan” – has died. Before working in Albany radio between 1961 and 2004, the Utica native got his start at WTLB, where he used his real name on-air. OSWEGO — For more than 40 years, Robert H. Chetney spent part of his Sundays hosting the Irish-American Hour on WSGO. Chetney passed away earlier this month at the age of 83. 
SYRACUSE — While he never worked in local radio, many will recognize his name nonetheless: former WTVH weatherman Jack Slater has passed away. Slater, who worked for the CBS affiliate during it’s era of market dominance under the “NewsCenter 5″ branding, was 76.
SYRACUSE — Longtime WNDR personality John “Happy Jack” McNamee has died. According to family members, McNamee, who spent roughly 25 years on-air at the station, died on Sunday at the age of 83. Calling hours are set for Thursday evening. Updated 7/21 with link to obituary.
SYRACUSE — He worked as an on-air personality, a programmer, and even a station owner. We regret to pass along the news that Don DeRosa lost his battle to cancer yesterday. Former colleague Jeff Moulton tells us DeRosa passed at about 4:30 yesterday afternoon — while friends and former colleagues gathered in Syracuse for a benefit to help cover DeRosa’s medical bills. Updated 6/21 with calling hours and funeral information. AUBURN — For many years, he hosted The Polka Party on Auburn’s WAUB 1590. He was so well-liked in the community, he also spent plenty of time behind the mic off-air, as the emcee of many local events. Donald Fordham passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82. 
UTICA-ROME — Stew Schantz, who once served as Operations Manager of Clear Channel’s former Utica-Rome cluster, has passed away at the age of 53. He most recently was working as OM and afternoon driver at WUPE in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Anonymous sources say Schantz died Friday morning, of complications following a heart attack Thursday night. Updated 6/14 with official obituary/arrangements. 
UTICA-ROME — We’re saddened to report Virginia “Ginny” Jones, a longtime fixture in local broadcasting, passed away Wednesday after losing her battle with cancer. While most area listeners probably never knew Jones by name, chances are you’ve heard her voice and/or her copywriting in commercial spots, particularly those which were produced and aired by the former Regent Communications cluster. |
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UTICA/ROME — Calling hours will take place tomorrow evening for Tom Burke, a former radio personality who owned his own Utica-area advertising agency and DJ business. Burke, known for singing many of his clients’ jingles himself, was 45 years old. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
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