This was a shocker when I read it this morning in Tom Taylor's daily email newsletter:
Albany radio goes silent at 8am today, remembering Bob Ausfeld. Yes, he really touched that many people in Albany, New York, in a career that spanned 40 years. He was known as “The BobFather” and also “The King of Albany Radio,” and he died Sunday, following the heart transplant you read about here last Thursday. He’d been waiting two years for a suitable donated heart, and his family rushed him to Boston for the ten-hour operation. His illness inspired the @BobStrong hashtag, for a pro who started as a jock at the original WPTR and had managed market-leading country WGNA (107.7) for a plethora of owners, including Regent and Townsquare. He was also associated with stations like classic rock “Pyx 106” WPYX, and heck, almost all the stations in town. As Brian Bushner says in the Albany Business Review, “Bob worked for 11 different companies without changing his office once.” Most recently Ausfeld had been managing for Jim Morrell’s Albany Broadcasting/Pamal. Ausfeld was 64. Bushner, who once worked with Ausfeld, reports the coordinated minute of radio silence, and says the obituary for Ausfeld was the hardest article he’s had to write. Bob was 64.
---
Bob was the Sales Manager at the old 1540 WPTR when I worked there in the late 70s. He was a great guy and fun to be around. He will be sadly missed. My condolences to his friends and colleagues.
Albany radio goes silent at 8am today, remembering Bob Ausfeld. Yes, he really touched that many people in Albany, New York, in a career that spanned 40 years. He was known as “The BobFather” and also “The King of Albany Radio,” and he died Sunday, following the heart transplant you read about here last Thursday. He’d been waiting two years for a suitable donated heart, and his family rushed him to Boston for the ten-hour operation. His illness inspired the @BobStrong hashtag, for a pro who started as a jock at the original WPTR and had managed market-leading country WGNA (107.7) for a plethora of owners, including Regent and Townsquare. He was also associated with stations like classic rock “Pyx 106” WPYX, and heck, almost all the stations in town. As Brian Bushner says in the Albany Business Review, “Bob worked for 11 different companies without changing his office once.” Most recently Ausfeld had been managing for Jim Morrell’s Albany Broadcasting/Pamal. Ausfeld was 64. Bushner, who once worked with Ausfeld, reports the coordinated minute of radio silence, and says the obituary for Ausfeld was the hardest article he’s had to write. Bob was 64.
---
Bob was the Sales Manager at the old 1540 WPTR when I worked there in the late 70s. He was a great guy and fun to be around. He will be sadly missed. My condolences to his friends and colleagues.