Category: Obituary
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Hauff, Tom
WCPX: News DirectorWBAL: News DirectorKJRH:WFLA:WISN: News Director (1979- )WXYZ: TV news producer, writer References:
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Kress, Rob
WXYZ: TV news weathercaster. Died: September 28, 2024. “Rob Kress, a cherished meteorologist, devoted family man, and passionate musician, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2024, in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. Born on October 4, 1946, in Waterloo, Iowa, Rob’s warmth and kindness touched the lives of everyone he met throughout his remarkable 77 years.…
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Russell, Mike
Michael B. Russell, ATA vice president of Public Affairs and veteran newsman, died in a white water rafting accident in Colorado June 15, 2006. Mike fell from the raft on Clear Creek and was declared dead when pulled from the river.
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Carter, Donald W. – ‘Don’
Passed away July 30, 2024, at the age of 74. He was the loving husband of Susan Giannotta for 39 years.
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Turner, Marilyn (nee Miller)
WXYZ: TV talent. Co-host with John Kelly of Kelly and Company and Good Afternoon Detroit. Passed: May 2024 [wxyz.com] References: Marilyn Turner, a real expert at handling many of the technical issues that come with broadcasting news had a struggle with the mechanical weather board.
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Fisher, Rich
WXYZ: TV news. Died, March 24, 2017, after fighting cancer for many months.[1] Lynch and Clawson Funeral Home, “Rich Fisher died peacefully March 24, 2017. He was 67 years old. Rich was born March 31, 1949, in Detroit, to James and Patricia Fisher. He is survived by his children, Bill Fisher, Richard Fisher, Stephanie (Bryan)…
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Biscoe-Bailey, Doris
WXYZ: TV news talent, anchor, and reporter from1972-2000 on Channel Seven, Detroit. Feature reporter at WGPR-FM, 107.5 Died: June 7, 2024 Doris doing one of thousands of interviews while at WXYZ-TV, Detroit. Photo used with Doris’ permission. Read more about blacks who helped to define radio [TV] in Detroit by reading Ken Coleman’s book, “Soul…
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Weaver, Dan
WXYZ: Producer for Kelly and Company. TV programming. Died: April 2018. References: Sightings: Publications
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Carr, Beverly
WXYZ: PBX operator. Beverly Louise Carr, 87, passed away on April 23, 2024. Obiturary: Lynch and Sons, Milford, Michigan Beverly Louise Carr, born on August 05, 1936, in Highland Park, Michigan, was the daughter of George and Mary Krause of Oak Park, Michigan. Beverly married her high school sweetheart after graduation.Together they had three sons,…
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Coughlan-Choquette, Jill
WXYZ: TV programming. Died: January 9, 2008. Three-time Emmy award winning TV producer Jill Coughlan lost her battle with breast cancer. Interning at WXYZ she made her mark with John and Marilyn at Kelly and Company. She moved on to KGO in her native San Francisco with continued success. Three-time Emmy award winning TV producer. During…
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Seay, Samuel G. – ‘Sam’
WXYZ: TV engineering, videographer. [August 18, 1946 – January 11, 2022] Samuel started his amazing life in Oakland, CA. His family moved to Detroit, MI in 1948. Samuel attended the Detroit Public Schools. At Wilbur Wright High School, he was involved in the football program. He graduated in 1964. Upon graduation, he was employed at Ford…
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Calvert, Ken [aka K.C. The Casual One]
WCSX: FM HostWJR: Talk Radio HostWLLZ: DeejayWXYZ / WRIF: FM Programming and DeejayWABX: DeejayWWWW: Deejay Deceased: December 20, 2023 References:
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Erskine, Dean
WXYZ: TV film and video tape editor. 1988 Archive Photo Dean was a friend to every co-worker and made everyone feel comfortable at station functions.
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Head, Anita
WXYZ: Mailroom. Anita Head, former employee of WXYZ-TV, passed away on Thursday, April 5, 2007. Anita worked at Channel 7 for six (6) years. She worked in the Mailroom; News Receptionist, Switchboard Operator and in the Accounting Dept. She also worked for WRIF. Anita is survived by her Mother, Emmie Head and one brother…
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Price, John – ‘JR’
WXYZ: TV Engineering. 1981 through about 2005. After a several year illness, died June 2011.
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Krasik, Bonnie
WXYZ: TV production, Health Report producer and Executive Producer. Deceased: March 12, 1956 – October 13, 2023
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Ochs, Jim
WBFH: Radio Personality WXYZ: TV programming. Voice guy for The Dick Purtan Show. Commercial voice overs. Good Afternoon Detroit. Lost battle with lung cancer on December 14, 2020. References:
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Gross, John
KSTP: Reporter and Photojournalist. Died, January 15, 2023, at age 76. WXYZ: TV sports reporter. “Gross, John L. Our dearly loved husband and father, age 76, passed away on January 15, 2023. Preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. Survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nancy; daughters, Catherine (Kevin) Kovac, Carrie…
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Bell-Hansen, Rita (nee Connolly)
WXYZ: Host of ‘Prize Movie’. Prize Movie ran every weekday morning for 21 years starting in 1960. During the breaks, Rita would receive phone calls from viewers who tried to guess song titles. Rita was born in 1925 and passed on December 9, 2003. She was married to Jerome Frederick Hansen who was a Sgt.…
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Penn, Nate
WXYZ: TV Engineering. Retiring in 2018 after 40 years of service with WXYZ-TV. Nate was a photojournalist in the news department and worked on many production events as well.
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Miller, William R. – ‘Bill’
WXYZ: TV Engineering, film, news ENG editing. William Reid (Bill) Miller18 May 1930 – 28 January 2000Worked at WXYZ: 1966 to 1992 Bill’s Daughter Remembers… I fondly remember growing up around the station house, typing on Erik Smith’s typewriter (his cubicle was across from my dad’s editing booth, at the time), hanging out with Rob Kress…
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Clark, Rex
WXYZ: Engineering, Camera, Audio. Died in 1994. Rex was one of the earliest employees during the creation of WXYZ. I recall my earliest days (1975) at WXYZ, working boom mic on a children’s show named “Daedal Doors.” One of the camera operators assigned to that show was Rex Clark (I’m fairly certain I got his…
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Wilt, Frank
Francis “Frank” Joseph Wilt, age 83, of Clinton Township, Michigan passed away on Friday, October 14, 2022.
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Skzynear, Lynn
WXYZ: Journalist. Died October 17, 2022 “Lynn Skynear lived an incredible life – she joined the Air Force at 18 years old, served in Vietnam, became a journalist and anchorwoman and opened a furniture store in Washington DC. Her delivery van helped launch our business and she coined the name “College Hunks Hauling Junk” one…
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Adderley, Larry
WXYZ: Sports reporter. Detroit Tiger announcer (1981-1983). Died April 2020. WWJ: Sports WCZY: Sports WOMC: Sports
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Hensley-MacLeod, Patty
WXYZ: TV Engineering. Retire after 44 years with the station. July 17, 2018 – Passed away from a traumatic brain injury received during a fall on July 13, 2018. Her co-workers, family and friends were in shock at her passing. She was loved by many. Patty was born on January 1, 1955. Memorial Service Flyer…
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Volker, Al
WXYZ: TV news writer and producer. Died on January 6, 2014, at his home in Hoover, Alabama. Al worked at WXYZ-TV from January 1976 through November 1979. He attended the University of Miami, Class of 1966. He attended high schools both Morgantown, WV and Coral Gables, FL. Memorial services were private by his family. References:…
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Tarrien, Jerome – “Jerry”
WXYZ: TV news videographer. Jerry died at his home after an illness on Tuesday, September 23, 2014. Press Release from WXYZ.com, “(WXYZ) – It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Jerry Tarrien. Jerry lost his courageous battle with cancer Tuesday morning. Our entire Channel 7 family is terribly saddened…
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Major, Dwight
WXYZ: TV engineering, news eng editing. Dwight Major – Original Photo in the Terry Pochert collection
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Brodley, Sheldon – “Shel”
WXYZ: TV engineering. From the Brother Rice High School Student Parent Handbook 2013-14, “The school logo is the Warrior Head. The school nickname is the Warriors. The late Mr. Sheldon Brodley, a football coach and long time friend of Brother Rice, was responsible for our present logo. In 1969, he asked Jack Flechsig, Art Director…
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Rodammer, Wallace – ‘Wally’
WXYZ: TV Chief Engineer. Died May 9, 2020. KTSB: Chief Engineer References: Obituary (PDF)
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Turnbough, Dorcene
WXYZ: Secretary to Nancy Gallagher in Personnel and then moved to Programming to work with Bob Woodruff. Sadly, she passed away in Fall, 1999.
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Bradley, Chris
Died 2018. WBNS: Weather. WXYZ: Weather. From 1994-1998. November 28, 2017 – We have just been informed that Chris has been diagnosed with leukemia. It is currently not in remission. Our staff and fellow co-workers pray for comfort during the doming days. From WBNS – February 4, 2014 References: Facebook Recent Sightings: WBNS Columbus, Ohio
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Peters, Joseph M.
WTVT: WXYZ: Videographer. KSAZ: WBBH: Joseph M. Peters, 46, of Tampa, FL went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 27, 2012, after a courageous, year long battle with heart disease. Joe passed at home surrounded by family and friends. He was born on May 1, 1966, in Waukegan, IL to Francis M.…
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Mitchell, Chester – Chet
WXYZ: TV engineering. Obituary in the Detroit Free Press on May 8, 2008, by staff writer, Joe Rossiter. “Chester (Chet) Mitchell, a World War II veteran and retired engineer for WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), died Sunday at his home in White Lake Township after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. The former Southfield resident was 90. Born…
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Losin, Zenon W. – ‘Zen’
WXYZ: Engineering Maintenance. Died August 17, 2007. References: D.S. Temrowski & Sons – PDF, JPG
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Zieve, Morton – ‘Mort’
WXYZ: Director. At the time, one of the youngest TV director’s in the Detroit market. Wrote and produced “Auntie Dee” along with Soupy Sale’s nightime show. Died August 8, 2005. Started in the 1950s directing and producting various shows for the station. After he left the station, Mort worked in advertising with Big Boy Restaurants…
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Flechsig, Jack
WXYZ: TV Graphics and Art Director. Born 1922, died January 2011 [Corrected from 1988, See comment] From the Brother Rice High School Student Parent Handbook 2013-14, “The school logo is the Warrior Head. The school nickname is the Warriors. The late Mr. Sheldon Brodley, a football coach and long time friend of Brother Rice, was responsible for our…
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Bowersock, Michael G.
Reporter. 1959-2016 Joined the NBC4 (Columbus, Ohio) staff as an investigative/special projects reporter in August 2004. He also co-anchors the Sunday editions of NBC4 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Mike returns to WCMH-TV after working at the station from 1989 to 1994. He came back to Columbus after spending the past two years as…
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Farris, Loretta (nee Trygar)
WXYZ: TV news business manager. Born November 17, 1926, and died from Ovarian Cancer on December 27, 1989, at the age of 63. Suzan Farris, daughter of Loretta, also staff at WXYZ.
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McGill, Charles – ‘Snuffy’
WXYZ: TV film cameraman. Obituary Information: Born, April 1, 1916 (Charles William Jr.) and passed on November 13, 2008. Public obituary, “Age 92, of Marysville, Michigan, died Thursday, November 13, 2008 at his daughter’s residence in Linden, Michigan. Charles was born April 1, 1916 in Lansing, the son of Charles W. and Iva (Harris) McGill, Sr.…
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Durrschmidt, Ed – Eddie
WXYZ: Radio and TV Engineering. Eddie died last November 29, 2014. Ed and his wife last resided in Texas.
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Rottell, Dennis
WXYZ: TV film and ENG editing. Died on May 25, 2013. Dennis Ira Rottell memorial service held on Sunday, June 2, 2013.
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Davis, Johnny – ‘Scat’
WXYZ: Born: May 11, 1910, Died: November 28, 1983. 1951/52 – Musician for various early TV shows including Jazz Nocturne, Coffee and Cakes and Starlit Stairway. Listen to his recording on YouTube.com Detroit Television by Tim Kiska, Ed Golick – Google Books References: Wikipedia DetroitKidsShow.com
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Dannon, Tony
WXYZ: House musician with WXYZ-TV, performing on a few locally produced shows, including the late night Soupy Sales variety show. Tony Dannon is a jazz legend in USA. He has played with the best, taught thousands of students over the years, and released jazz books & recordings. Here in Detroit…
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Davis, Charles ‘Chuck’
WXYZ: If you have information about Chuck Davis, please post your comments below or use our Contact Page. Chuck is no longer with us, but worked at WXYZ during the 1950-60s.
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Clooney, Betty
WXYZ: (April 12, 1929 – August 5, 1976) Talent on Goin’ Steady (1952-53). The program was “said to be the most elaborate locally sponsored variety show on the air.”[2] After Clooney’s death, her family established the Betty Clooney Foundation for Persons with Brain Injury. It operates the Betty Clooney Center for Persons with Traumatic Brain…
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Cazavan, Larry
WXYZ: 1972-1975 Program Director; 1973 Executive Producer on The Hot Fudge Show WXVT: Larry died from cancer at the age of 67. Director Station WCPO-television, Cincinnati, 1967, Station KMBC-television, Kansas City, Missouri, 1967—1970, program director, 1970—1971. Assistant program director Station World’s Largest Store -television, Chicago, 1972. Program director Station WXYZ-television, Detroit, 1972—1975, Station WISH-television, Indianapolis,…
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Dear, Robert – ‘Bob’
WXYZ: Staging and lighting director. ia346.com, “Local 38 member Robert C. Dear, father of director William Dear (“Angels in the Outfield”) and Script Supervisor Susan Dear, died of congestive heart failure on December 11 (2009). He was 90. Dear was born in Toronto, Canada. After serving as a tail gunner in the Royal Canadian Air…
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Striker, Fran
Writer for the The Long Ranger for WXYZ. Born August 19, 1903 and died September 4, 1962. Died in a two-car collision. Fran Striker was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988. References: Wikipedia National Radio Hall of Fame Chicago Tribune, February 19, 1986, John Corr – Lone Ranger Author Taking Us On 1…
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Amburg, Fred “Van”
San Francisco bay area TV news personality. KGO anchor. References: KGO – Legendary KGO anchorman, institution Van Amburg passes away at 86
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Bitzer, Deborah
TV sales, 1981 – 1985. Date of Death: March 25, 2014. References: LinkedIn (PDF) Obituary (PDF)
