Very sad news, which is getting a lot of air-time here in the Philadelphia area, since he grew up in the city, got his first job there (teaching 6th grade) and began his broadcasting career at radio station WDAS. On the local TV stations we're seeing lots of pictures of him as a young man.

He was scheduled to come to Temple University in Philly in October to receive the Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award for 2006, but declined to appear due to an infection he had contracted -- an infection that resulted in an ultimately-fatal worsening of his condition. In fact, according to reports, he insisted that the award NOT be accepted by anyone else on his behalf, and that he would appear in person to receive it at a later date. It appears that he was using that as a mental/spiritual incentive in his battle to recover from the leukemia -- a goal toward which to work. Unfortunately he never saw the award itself but at least he knew that, among his many awards and honors, people in his hometown wished to honor him yet again.