ITHACA -- Our condolences to the family, friends and colleages of Finger Lakes Productions International CEO and President Paul Bartishevich, who died on Friday at the age of 53. From his Ithaca-based company, Bartishevich has produced more than 22,000 short-form features aired by more than 400 radio stations across the country.
According to an obituary in today's Ithaca Journal, calling hours will be held Wednesday from 5-8pm at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home on South Street in Trumansburg. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 1pm, at the First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses on Main Street in Trumansburg. The family asks that those who wish to remember Paul by way of a contribution to consider the American Red Cross in Ithaca or the American Cancer Society in Johnson City.
Bartishevich founded Finger Lakes Productions International in 1987, following a two-year stint at Cornell University which, Bartishevich wrote on his LinkedIn.com profile, "motivated me to start my own company." Before working at Cornell, Bartishevich worked briefly at WSYR radio in Syracuse during 1985, and prior to that, as a news editor for the Mutual Radio Network.
During the early 2000s, Bartishevich's company was selected by Florida's Department of Environmental Protection to help launch the Everglades Radio Network, providing 24/7 programming about the region to drivers along the "Alligator Alley" portion of Interstate 75. Earlier, the company founded and launched the Radio Voyager Network, the first English-language commercial network heard throughout Europe.
Wow! I am in shock. I had the pleasure of working with Paul when I was a PD in Ithaca. Too young! RIP Paul...my condolences to his family and friends.