Stan Jasinski

[JustPastBuffalo]

WBFO this morning reported the passing of legendary Buffalo broadcaster, Stan "Stash" Jasinski, who was a major force in Buffalo radio. Jasinski owned WMMJ-AM 1300, Lancaster (NY) and was a major partner in WUTV channel 29, Buffalo.

He was a prominent member of the Polish community and served that audience for many years as host of the Polka Beehive on WWOL and WMMJ, which brought thousands of listeners news from their homeland and local community events.

---

Like many Buffalo jocks and production guys, I had the opportunity to work for Jasinski at WMMJ, Lancaster in the late 60's when I was a long-haired rookie. Stan was demanding and sometimes tough to work for, but his influence made a lasting positive impression on me. As an owner, operator and broadcaster, he was old school and demanded the best from his people.

He also could be avuncular and compassionate.

There was always a Shelly ham or turkey for employees on Christmas and Easter. His wife was an angel. While Stan was a taskmaster, his wonderful wife (who passed away years ago) was always the calming influence on the station employees.

Stan Jasinski. Eternal rest grant him.

 

[MWozniak]

Hi Jim, and all...

Nice words regarding Stan Jasinski (and, thanks for listening to WBFO!).

I had the good fortune to work as Stan "Stash" Jasinski's assistant from 1986 to 1998, at WNYS/WHTT/WMNY. I worked weekends with Stan, while working weekdays at WBFO. Each employer knew about the other, and neither one minded. Yes, Stan could be a tough taskmaster at times, but he knew what he wanted, and who was I to argue with a man who started his broadcasting career 20 years before I was born! Plus, that VOICE! He certainly knew how to reach his audience.

One of the first commercials I did for him was for the now-closed Lucki-Urban appliance store, one of his longtime sponsors. It gave me chills to play the Gene Wisniewski jingle at the end of the spot; I remember hearing the same jingle on the radio when I was a preschooler! I settled into a wonderful partnership with Stan, resigning in 1998 after my son became seriously ill. Stan had allowed me to record my weekly spots in advance, so I could be home more often with my family.

My tenure with Stan was perhaps the most influential component of my career, and his radio stories were legendary. He frequently told me I could take over his programs if I spoke Polish, but I only know a few words, some not repeatable on the radio. Besides, no one could ever take over for Stan. Polka radio in Buffalo has not been the same since his final signoff in June 2000. His on-air career is significant enough to merit honors, but add to that his excellence as a salesman (his clients LOVED him), an owner or manager (WWOL, WMMJ, WUTV Channel 29), and his stature in the Polish-American community. Most local political leaders were on a first name basis with him; an endorsement on his program could deliver thousands of votes, especially from Buffalo's East Side, Cheektowaga, and Depew. He continued his tradition of holiday hams or turkeys for his staff, including engineers Ron Nawotka, Larry Jones and me.

Sadly, I never met his wife. I paid a professional courtesy call to the funeral home at her wake and introduced myself to him. I was co-hosting a polka show on WBFO at the time. He told me there that he wanted to speak to me about working for him. I *STILL* don't know why I went to the funeral home that day, since I did not personally know him, but I did, and it turned out to be a career-enhancing decision.

Rest in peace, Stan! Thank you for the memories, and the invaluable twelve year broadcast education.

/Mark Wozniak



> WBFO this morning reported the passing of legendary Buffalo
> broadcaster, Stan "Stash" Jasinski, who was a major force in
> Buffalo radio. Jasinski owned WMMJ-AM 1300, Lancaster (NY)
> and was a major partner in WUTV channel 29, Buffalo.
>
> He was a prominent member of the Polish community and served
> that audience for many years as host of the Polka Beehive on
> WWOL and WMMJ, which brought thousands of listeners news
> from their homeland and local community events.
>
> ---
>
> Like many Buffalo jocks and production guys, I had the
> opportunity to work for Jasinski at WMMJ, Lancaster in the
> late 60's when I was a long-haired rookie. Stan was
> demanding and sometimes tough to work for, but his influence
> made a lasting positive impression on me. As an owner,
> operator and broadcaster, he was old school and demanded the
> best from his people.
>
> He also could be avuncular and compassionate.
>
> There was always a Shelly ham or turkey for employees on
> Christmas and Easter. His wife was an angel. While Stan was
> a taskmaster, his wonderful wife (who passed away years ago)
> was always the calming influence on the station employees.
>
> Stan Jasinski. Eternal rest grant him.
>

 

[topsound]

> Hi Jim, and all...
(clip)

One of the pleasures of my career was the opportunity to have a personal and professional relationship with this great man. I guess I was technically his "boss" because I was responsible for the station his show aired on, but there was nothing I could have imagined saying or doing to "manage" him. Rather, It was an honor to have him on our airwaves, along with Mark, Ron and Larry, who were always the utmost professionals.

Please pass along information about how we may pay our respects.

Schuh

 

[Mark_Scott]

> > Hi Jim, and all...
> (clip)
>
> One of the pleasures of my career was the opportunity to
> have a personal and professional relationship with this
> great man. I guess I was technically his "boss" because I
> was responsible for the station his show aired on, but there
> was nothing I could have imagined saying or doing to
> "manage" him. Rather, It was an honor to have him on our
> airwaves, along with Mark, Ron and Larry, who were always
> the utmost professionals.
>
> Please pass along information about how we may pay our
> respects.
>
> Schuh
>
Hi Tom. Check out today's Buffalo News. There's an obituary and death notice that has all the information. Mark

 

[Radknowski]

> >
> Hi Tom. Check out today's Buffalo News. There's an
> obituary and death notice that has all the information.
> Mark
>

Stan Jasinski was an icon in the Polish community. As noted by Mark Wozniak and Scott, the man was revered. Many of my grandparents' generation were glued to the radio when he was on. Over the years it was often said that he could have run for any elected office he wanted and won in a landslide.

To this day, I remember listening to WMMJ when it was a country station (before it was sold to Ramblin' Lou), hearing guys like Steve Mitchell and other very talented jocks and news people.

Word has it the call letters stood for his daughters' or wife's initials.

 

[caveman97]

> > >
> > Hi Tom. Check out today's Buffalo News. There's an
> > obituary and death notice that has all the information.
> > Mark
> >
>
> Stan Jasinski was an icon in the Polish community. As noted
> by Mark Wozniak and Scott, the man was revered. Many of my
> grandparents' generation were glued to the radio when he was
> on. Over the years it was often said that he could have run
> for any elected office he wanted and won in a landslide.
>
> To this day, I remember listening to WMMJ when it was a
> country station (before it was sold to Ramblin' Lou),
> hearing guys like Steve Mitchell and other very talented
> jocks and news people.
>
> Word has it the call letters stood for his daughters' or
> wife's initials.


WMMJ stood for Maria and Michelle Jasinski, Stan's daughters. WMMJ was the second station I worked for. I arrived in 1967 after spending over a year working for the Hound at WBLK. Stan apparently was well aware that WBLK's paychecks often bounced and when he interviewed me, he assured me that I would never get get a bad check at WMMJ. Stan was right on the money in more ways than one. WMMJ was the only station I've worked for that paid its employees with cash. Every Friday, Stan's wife would give each employee a tiny envelope containing cash. We had to sign a statement that we'd been paid. No bad checks. No checks.
>