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.
ALBANY — He worked primarily in print media, referred to as “the dean” of State Capitol journalists by the Albany Times-Union… but he was also a frequent contributor to WHCU’s Morning Newswatch. Former Gannett Albany bureau chief Jay Gallagher passed away Monday evening in an Albany hospital after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly a year. Today, WHCU’s Dave Vieser shares some of his memories of working with Gallagher.
SYRACUSE — Longtime sportscaster Claude “Red” Parton has died, according to a report from ABC affiliate NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV). Parton’s career spanned more than six decades, starting with WSYR in 1939. He’d eventually work at a number of other radio stations before moving into television.
MEADVILLE, PA — It is with sadness we report that former Big Frog 104 (WFRG) midday hostess Karie “Crickett” Shields has died. According to a news report published yesterday, Shields was found dead Monday morning in a friend’s home. For the past ten years, Shields hosted middays at northwestern Pennsylvania’s Froggy 100.3/98.5.
Updated 5/6 with details on funeral arrangements being held in Oneonta.
Betty Allinger at WIBX (Photo courtesy Chris Allinger)
ITHACA — She was one of the first women to broadcast news on the radio, during World War II. And that’s just one of many accomplishments Betty Allinger achieved during her time at Utica’s WIBX, and through her heavy involvement with a long list of community organizations outside of the workplace. Betty Allinger died over the weekend in Ithaca. She was 93. Calling hours are set for this afternoon in Utica, and a Funeral Mass is set to take place tomorrow morning in New Hartford.
WATERTOWN — Reginald James Pettiford, perhaps better known by his on-air nickname “Jimbo,” has passed away. The afternoon drive personality from Classic Hits Z93 (WCIZ) was 56 years old. Updated 12/24 at 11am with arrangements.
UTICA — Calling hours for longtime local radio host Joe Graziano are set for today (Tuesday) from 3-6pm at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes at 2222 Genesee Street. According to the Utica Observer-Dispatch, a Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life with military honors will follow the visitation. As reported earlier, Graziano died on Friday at the age of 74. He spent the last several years of his career hosting the Cuppa Joe Show on WRUN, and later on WUTQ/WADR.
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