Here's the unofficial obit, written by his daughter Sarah
JEFFERSON KAYE OBITUARY
November 16, 2012
Jeff Kaye, age 75, born on December 12, 1936, died on November 16th from terminal cancer. Jeff, born Martin Krimski, leaves his wife Suzanne, four children Anne, Judith, Peter and Sarah, his three son-in-laws, Richard Schoonover, David Harrow, and Tenbroeck Smith, his daughter-in-law, Amy Herzel-Krimski and his 7 grandchildren, Amy, David, Emmitt, Samuel, Noah, Maxim and Spencer.
Four-time Emmy Award winning broadcast announcer, Kaye made his mark at WBZ in Boston, but his real talent would bloom in Buffalo, New York at WKBW, when he snagged at 7pm-midnight show in 1965. Kaye lassoed the teenybopper frenzy and cultivated it through his rebellious launch of "The Teenage Underground." On air Kaye would talk to his eager young audience: "I know your parents think your home, but the Teenage Underground never sleeps!" WKBW began its surge into radio history. Norman Schrutt, former KB'er and ABC Radio International President, Says: "I am sure that any success I’ve had in broadcasting was due in part to Jefferson Kaye…we talked about music, creativity, promotion, and most importantly how to listen and evaluate talent…we had a special friendship, he had a lot of hair, I did not, he was good looking, I was not, he had that great voice, I did not…I have no idea why I like him…where I come from the highest compliment to pay a man is to call him a MENCH (a man’s man) Jeff Kaye is a MENCH."
Kaye inspired loyalty from his employees when he took the helm at "KB" as Program Director in 1968. Says friend and former KB'er Sandy Beach: "Jeff Kaye was a magnificent Program Director, and an even better man.He had such class, style, and talent.He encouraged us to "go for it" every time we were on the air.He recognized, hired, and nurtured talent.His imagination, and innovative instinct was without peer.Most will point to War of the Worlds" or
Paul is Dead, or his production of Bill's games. But I always saw him as a larger than life guy that would go to bat for us.and remembered that KB was not a hardware store but an obvious role model for any station, in any market, under any circumstances.Jeff Kaye was the soul of KB, and when he left, the soul left with him.Put plainly, he was by far, the very best."
Kaye was a risk-taker. His fascination with story telling made his standard unbeatable. With WKBW legend Danny Neaverth, Kaye unleashed a program in 1968 on the 50,000-watt station that could be heard from Maine to Maryland: The WKBW-AM 1520 presentation of a live radio play "WAR OF THE WORLDS."
An excerpt from Bob Kosinski’s superb examination of the play recounted splendidly on the Buffalo Broadcasters Association: website: "Jeff Kaye had written a script and together with engineer Danny Kriegler attempted to produce and direct the production..... Faced with airing a collection of amateurish readings by his staff, Kaye decided to allow the reporters to be themselves and have them report on the invasion as though it was actually occurring. Reporters such as Jim Fagan, Don Lancer and Joe Downey along with DJ Sandy Beach and WKBW TV anchor Irv Weinstein were armed with the details of events they were to report on and then told to just be themselves. This new approach not only worked better than following a written script, it scared the hell out of thousands of listeners."
One by one newsmen were killed off and the phones were jammed with callers fearing that what they were hearing was real. It was at this point that Jeff Kaye realized things had gotten out of hand and he wanted to interrupt the program to calm listener's fears. Director Dan Kriegler, fully absorbed in the production at this point would have none of that. Fearing that Kaye’s interruption would harm the integrity of the production, the two began to argue. So determined was Jeff Kaye that he threatened to yank the large reel-to-reel tape off its spindle and end the program unless Kriegler allowed him to go on the air." Now faced with the realization that Kaye would actually do it, Kriegler allowed him to cut in and give a live disclaimer telling everyone this program was only a dramatization. Yet, the calls still came in and listeners up and down the East Coast began phoning relatives in Buffalo to see if they were ok." Excerpt with the permission of Dave Gillen President of the Buffalo Broadcasters Association.
http://www.buffalobroadcasters.com/hist_kbwow.asp
Kaye went on the air in the early 80's at WBEN Radio, where he was able to take the helm for local production of the Buffalo Bills play-by-play. This marked a turning point for Kaye, from local to national sports broadcaster.
The next stop was NFL Films. Kaye was ready to take his shot.
With co-founder Steve Sabol, Kaye was able put his deep sonorous baritone onto a complex pallet of music, and state of the art cinematography. Says Kevin McLoughlin, Director of Post Production for NFL Films; " I am still fascinated in the way he told a story. His voice so smooth, yet booming was always a pleasure to listen too as well. He had some big shoes to fill after John Facenda passed away. Jeff narrated hundreds of films for NFL Films over the years, from Team Highlights to Road to the Super Bowl, and was one of the best voices of NFL Films."
Kaye enjoyed life, had a passion for sports, sailing, reading, and never had a shortage of original ideas. Kaye passed away surrounded by his family at home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests individuals to donate to The American Cancer Society
