Jack Mindy announces his retirement

[Ed Trefzger]

It's been a pleasure for me to know and work with Jack at WGMC for the past almost 7 years.

Here's the official release from the station:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Rob Linton – Station Manager
1139 Maiden Lane
Rochester, NY 14615
585-966-2660
[email protected]

Radio Veteran Jack Mindy Retires After 52 Years On Air


(Rochester, NY) June 16, 2009 – Jack Mindy will retire as an on air disc jockey on July 6 after more than 50 years behind the mic. Mindy started his broadcasting career while still in high school in 1957, following in the foot steps of his father who began in the business in 1932. Mindy has worked at Upstate New York radio stations such as WBEN, WGR, WWKB, WYSL and WHAM. While in Buffalo, he spent time on WHEN and WFBL, and had a stint on WSYR in Syracuse. He also spent time on the air in other parts of the country such as St. Louis, Pittsburg, San Francisco and Detroit.

Mindy also co-founded Companion Radio – a satellite fed radio service for nursing homes and senior living facilities nationwide. Jack currently serves as afternoon drive host Monday – Friday from 3-6 p.m. and Operations Manager of WGMC Jazz90.1 in Rochester – a radio station owned and operated by the Greece Central School District. Mindy was key in carrying out the station’s power increase from 2,050 to 15,000 watts in 2004, and has entertained thousands of listeners each day as afternoon host since then.

Mindy will sign off the air for the last time as afternoon host on July 6. Former Jazz90.1 station manager and disc jockey Eric Gruner has been named to take over that slot beginning on July 7 from 3-6 p.m.

For more information, you may visit www.jazz901.org or call 585-966-2660.

 

[therealjm12]

Mindy has worked at Upstate New York radio stations such as WBEN, WGR, WWKB, WYSL and WHAM. While in Buffalo, he spent time on WHEN and WFBL, and had a stint on WSYR in Syracuse.

There is something wrong with the way the above is worded and might be confusing to some. Of course, WBEN, WGR, WWKB & WYSL are all in Buffalo while WHAM is in Rochester. WHEN, WFBL, and WSYR are in Syracuse.
I don't remember him working at WSYR and WFBL but do remember him doing afternoon drive at the golden days of WHEN. He was just great. A major market talent on what sounded like a major market station. I wish him the best. Just a class guy.

 

[pkingnews]

Jack is a true gentleman, one of the real nice guys in the business! I worked with him many moons ago at the old NESE(Northeast Satellite Entertainment) in Pittsford and really enjoyed getting to know him. Hope y'all give him the proper sendoff. A Western and Central NY Radio Great!

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

I consider myself fortunate to have heard Jack Mindy perform first at WYSL 1400, Buffalo ("... just drove into town from Muncy, Indiana with everything I own stuffed in a trailer...") ; then at WHEN and WFBL, Syracuse and later at WBEN and WWKB. Jack was always smoother than Johnson & Johnson on a baby's butt and witty. Most of all he's a gentleman and a true professional.

 

[Bob1370]

Jack is one of the most talented people, and most consummate professionals, you'll meet--not to mention one of the best people to work with. Had the pleasure of working with him in two places, WHEN in Syracuse and WBEN in Buffalo. In each station he took on the afternoon drive slot--the most hotly contested in each market at the time--and won.

Jack, all the best to you in the next phase of your life...but listeners, and the radio business, will miss you.

 

[nitro99]

And let us not forget while at WFBL in 1977, he also appeared (albeit momentarily) in that great movie, Slapshot. I believe his parts were shot in Utica...

One of the all-time underrated and personalities in Western New York radio.

 

[choicevoicepro.com]

I too had the good fortune to work with Jack at WBEN and I always admired him as a professional – but perhaps most importantly I admire him as a person. Class Act!

 

[Cashman]

Jack is a great talent and a wonderful human being. I worked with him breifly at WKLX and I was his producer/technician at NESE as well
as a programming assistant at Companion Radio. He is a remarkably creative guy and produced some incredible fascinating pieces. His friendly style was a great strength and he will be missed.

Rich Jones

 

[paulpallo]

Jack,

Retirement? You kidding me. Take your SAG card and come out here with the rest of us nuts in the bankrupt
state. It was a pleasure working with you on WYSL and I hope your still not pissed at
all the Doors music I blasted when we three Amigos shared that Townhouse in Buffalo. Where else could
you find a heated garage for your Italian Sports car? Perhaps you can find a Lazyboy with a
rag top. Good luck my old friend.

Paul Palo

 

[JimMcGrath]

I only met him once but I always enjoyed his on air work at WGMC.

 

[Savage]

I read somewhere - and somebody else told me - Jack Mindy's scene for "Slap Shot" was shot in Syracuse (it was portrayed as "Peterborough" in the film.) He was wearing a raspberry-colored 'sportcaster blazer.' Maybe Jack could weigh in on whether it was Utica or Zerocuse, just as a point of trivia for "the curious and the kooky."

Jack also came down and volunteered to help clean in the aftermath of WYSL's 1993 fire when I worked with him at NESE. Definitely a class guy. Best wishes!

 

[the real paul harvey]

Let me add my congratulations to Jack on his pending retirement. Although I never worked with Jack, I have followed his career since the early 70's. Jack is a fellow graduate of Ithaca College, predating me by 13 years. In fact there was a group of us from the ground level of Dillingham Center for the Arts that hung onto his every word at 62 WHEN. Here's to the "Legendary You Know Who!" or one of my other personal favorites: Jack coming out of the Bee Gee's "Tragedy" on WBEN : "You know its a tragedy when you blow your nose in your pantyhose." Best of luck to you Jack.

 

[therealjm12]

I read somewhere - and somebody else told me - Jack Mindy's scene for "Slap Shot" was shot in Syracuse (it was portrayed as "Peterborough" in the film.) He was wearing a raspberry-colored 'sportcaster blazer.'

Jack, also, had a lot more hair back in those days. I don't think any of Slapshot was filmed in Syracuse. A lot of it was filmed in Hamilton (Colgate) as well as some scenes in Utica. Funny thing about the Utica scenes..... When the mayor found out they were going to film in Utica he spent a lot of money fixing the Aud. up. When the film crew arrived they were flabbergasted! It wasn't what they wanted at all. They wanted it to look beat up and seedy. So they only filmed a few scenes there. When you watch the movie, the wide shots you see of the hockey barn, that actually looks nice, is the Utica Aud. I think some locker room shots were filmed there, too.
I was working at a radio station, at the time, in Utica and was offered the oppitunity to be an extra in the movie, but my boss wouldn't let me off. Some media friends of mine did make it into the movie and actually had speaking parts.

 

[Call Me Sherlock]

As someone who remembers Jack from our days at Ithaca College and his early work at WGVA and WTKO ("I Need Your Lovin' Everyday" by Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford, remember that Jack?), I join with all the others here in wishing Jack all the best in the years ahead. Always a pro and a real gentleman!

Larry White

 

[GSmitty]

I echo Whitey's best wishes to Jack. I worked with him at WHAM and listened to him many times on WHEN & WBEN. A real pro! Retirement is good Jack, especially with what's happening in the industry now.

 

[jack mindy]

Thank you all for your very kind words. If I accomplished anything, it was because I hanged (hung?) with a lot of damn talented people.

If I may clarify a few things -

I'm not leaving Jazz90.1, merely taking myself off the air (after half a century the novelty starts to wear off). I'll still be the part-time Operations Mgr., which will allow me a little more time to smell some roses without that "fading into the mist" feeling. FYI - for historical purposes only, my website (www.jackmindy.com) has an aircheck archive going back to the mid 60s. Unfortunately, it's all ME, but possibly of interest to a few.

As for Slapshot, I seem to recall a few crowd scenes were filmed in Syracuse but my part was done in the Utica War Memorial. And, thirty years later, I'm still receiving residuals for my clumsy attempt at acting. Three checks a year - $15 each, before taxes. I guess that makes me one of the few radio guys who's actually getting a pension!

Regards,
jm

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

As for Slapshot, I seem to recall a few crowd scenes were filmed in Syracuse but my part was done in the Utica War Memorial. And, thirty years later, I'm still receiving residuals for my clumsy attempt at acting. Three checks a year - $15 each, before taxes. I guess that makes me one of the few radio guys who's actually getting a pension!1

Regards,
jm

1Just an example of Jack's great sense of humor. Jack, now that you're "semi-retired" please visit this board and post frequently. -JPB

 

[jefflaurence]

Jack Mindy is such a professional..He even put up with an over anxious, long haired boy who was upped pre-maturely to the position of PD at one of Meredith Brodcastings best sounding stations..62/WHEN

He was the first true major market talent I had ever worked with..and he tought me a lot about how to treat people...unfortunatly it sunk in many years later..but he was patient, and allowed me to hang myself in style!

Jack..I always loved your work..you made that station terriffic..and I never appreciated you as I should have. Please accept all my positive energy in your work with Jazz/90.1 I would love to share a beef on wick with you again sometime

Jeff Laurence
www.jefflaurence.com

 

[alw]

Jack:

I'm glad you straightened things out about your situation at the station.....
I was about to have you fitted for a coffin.

Ever notice how maudlin this group of crusty old bastards become in the past tense?

 

[Kohoutek]

"Ooooooooooooooooo Jack Mindy," as the WBEN jinglers once sang.
Had the pleasure of working with him at two stations.
Can't say enough about a guy who was a class act on and off the air, ..a major talent, ...and a major influence on my own career.

Thanks for the memories, Jack! Best to you!