Farewell

UTICA/ROME — Dick Nellis, who worked at a number of Mohawk Valley stations including WLFH, WADR, WALY and WUTQ, has passed away.  Nellis, who also worked at stations in the Hudson Valley region south of Albany, was 70.

ASHEVILLE, NC — Cleve Mathews, whose career highlights include helping to create NPR’s All Things Considered and nearly 15 years as a professor and administrator at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, has died. Mathews was 84, when esophageal cancer claimed his life in North Carolina late last week.

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

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.

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

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.