Obituary
Retired MSU Journalism Professor William (Bill) Cote, who directed CNS, Dies
Dr. William E. Coté, a retired journalism professor who influenced the careers of hundreds of Michigan State University students and a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, died this past Monday (8/30) at age 81. Coté was born July 14, 1940 in Jackson, MI, the son of Mervin and Maybelle (Crosthwaite) Coté. He…
Read MoreDennis Mitchell: 1963-2021
Flint area broadcaster Dennis Mitchell passed away August 17 at age 58, after a long battle with cancer. Mitchell was the morning show host at WQUS-FM (Lapeer/Flint/) in the early 2000s. He later worked for WRSR-FM (Owosso/Flint) and also served as the Commercial Production Director for Cumulus Broadcasting Company’s Flint radio group. Mitchell, born Dennis…
Read MorePeter C. Cavanaugh Passes at Age 79
The MAB has learned that Flint radio legend Peter C. Cavanaugh passed away August 13 at the age of 79. His family posted word of his death on Facebook. Cavanaugh influenced Flint radio for decades, working at Top 40 WTAC-AM 600 beginning in 1964 and moved on to be the General Manager of WWCK-FM during…
Read MoreFormer West Michigan Radio Personality Michael Sirianni Dies at 63
The MAB has learned that Michael Sirianni, a popular West Michigan radio host, passed away July 20 after a decades-long fight with MS. During the 80s, 90s and early 2000s he worked at various West Michigan stations including WLHT-FM, WJFM-FM, WODJ-FM, WLAV-FM, WOOD-FM and WCSG-FM. Sirianni started his broadcasting career at WTRU in Muskegon. He…
Read MoreNorthern Michigan Broadcaster Dave Fortin Passes
Veteran northern Michigan reporter/anchor Dave Fortin has passed away. Fortin died July 21 at age 81. Fortin was on the television screen for over five decades. His career started at WPBN/WTOM-TV (Traverse City) in 1963 as a news anchor, reporter and sometimes a meteorologist. During his time at the station, he was known for always…
Read MoreCarl Levin: 1934 – 2021
Former Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), a 36-year veteran of the Senate has died at the age of 87. The Levin Center at Wayne State University announced the late senator’s death Thursday evening, calling him “a dearly beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, and life-long public servant.” In 2014, Levin was presented with the MAB’s…
Read MoreTom Shannon, Gone at 82
By Art Vuolo, Jr. We’re not sure if there are enough radio DJ’s to fill the shoes of all of the great names who we are losing. Now, we have to say farewell to Buffalo’s first homegrown Top 40 radio star who also worked in Detroit and Denver. He segued several times between the Niagara…
Read MoreWest Michigan Broadcast Veteran Ed Ver Schure Passes
The MAB has learned that veteran broadcaster Ed Ver Schure has died. He was 76. He was born on March 25, 1945 in Grand Haven. Ver Schure started his career in 1963 at WHTC-AM (Holland), moving in 1971 to WGRD (Grand Rapids) and then to WLAV (Grand Rapids) in 1972. This was followed by a…
Read MoreMPA Foundation’s Janet Mendler Passes at 75
The MAB has learned about the passing of former Michigan Press Association Foundation Director Janet Mendler. Mendler died April 26 at age 75 following a battle with cancer. | Mendler graduated from Dearborn High School in 1963 and earned a BA degree from Northern Michigan University and a Master’s in Journalism from the University of…
Read MoreWOOD Reporter Barton Deiters Dies After Battling West Nile Virus
After a seventh-month fight against the West Nile virus, WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) Barton Deiters passed away April 16. Deiters spent a professional career of more than 30 years in journalism, first as a print journalist at the Grand Rapids Press and then later at WOOD-TV. In a tribute story on the station’s website, it was…
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