This page is dedicated to alumni and staff members who are no longer with us. While they are gone, their memory lives on.
If you have a memory of a person that is listed here that you would like to share with us or if you wish to notify us of someone's passing (whether recent or several months or years ago), please email the details, photo, etc. to us and we'll include it here.
RHONDA EGGEN (HART)
Rhonda Eggen (Hart)
1961-2007
Rhonda Eggen, known to radio listeners as Rhonda Hart, died suddenly on June 4, 2007.
Eggen was a 1980 graduate (PD-09-79) of the Specs Howard School, who had ironically just paid us a visit the previous Friday to be the guest speaker at RTV-10-06's commencement ceremony (see above video).
She stayed after for some time after, offering her congratulations to a large group of grads eager to speak with her and hear more of her story.
This year marked Rhonda's 28th anniversary in radio and she was more enthusiastic and passionate than ever about her job as the co-host of "Mornings with Jon & Rhonda" on Detroit's Christian radio station, WMUZ-FM 103.5.
Rhonda's first job after graduating from Specs Howard School took her North to Cheboygan, Michigan, which she referred to as "culture shock but a great learning experience."
From there, Rhonda weaved her way through WABX, WRIF, WCSX, WOMC, WYCD and finally WMUZ, where she had worked for two years.
Donations to cover Rhonda's funeral expenses, may be made to:
Grace Gospel Fellowship
c/o Rhonda Hart Memorial
35 E. Huron
Pontiac, MI 48342
Mornings with Jon and Rhonda: Rhonda Hart co-hosted WMUZ's morning show with
Jon Culbert.
Lawrence Pile (DJ Liquid)
1981-2007
LAWRENCE PILE
Lawrence Pile, also known as DJ Liquid, died June 4, 2007.
Lawrence was
a recent graduate of Specs Howard School. As a member of RTV-08A-07, Lawrence had just graduated in March of this year but had been working as a club DJ since 2003.
Working freelance gigs at clubs such as 112 in Windosor, Enigma in Port Huron, Club Bleu in Detroit, Harry's Downtown Detroit, and Tonic Nightclub in Pontiac, Pile made a name for himself as DJ Liquid, partnering first with Decarlos (Kool Aid) Knighten and then Hypeman Marcus (Mark D) Cowin.
In addition to working the clubs, he was also known as the official DJ for the Sigmas and Deltas of Wayne State, worked various events at Grand Valley, and even rocked the University of Windsor.
Friday, June 15, 2:00-8:00 PM
Funeral at O.H. Pye Funeral Home
17600 Plymouth
Detroit, Michigan
Doing what he loved best: DJ Liquid loved spinning for crowds in inner city Detroit and the burbs.
GREGORY JONES-SIELOFF
Gregory Jones-Sieloff
We’re sad to report the passing last week of grad Gregory Jones-Sieloff, better known to Detroit radio listeners as Captain Rik Jagger on July 26, 2006.
Gregory was a devoted husband, and wonderful father to his girls and his beloved pets. He lived every day like it was his last. His first love is and always will be radio.
His radio name, "Captain Rik Jagger" was given to him by WJR Radio, as he was the very first AM/FM traffic helicopter pilot in Michigan, along with his dear friend, Channel 7's Dennis Neubacher. Rik ended his radio career at 97.1 WKRK as News Interpreter with afternoon "way-cools" radio stars, Deminski & Doyle.
Gregory is survived by his incredibly lucky wife of over 17 years, Donna; his "grey-hair-making" daughters, Amy-Nicole Fernandez (and Bill Martines) and Alizabeth Anne "Becky" Fernandez; his sons, Max and Major; mother, Lucielle (the late Kenneth) Sieloff; brothers, Tim, Patrick and his beloved David; and sister, Jennifer. Gregory is also survived by his spiritual daughters and son, Taylor, Brett and Bethany Strickland.
Memorial Service Tuesday 1 p.m. at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home, 33603 Grand River Avenue, downtown Farmington (1 blk. W. of Farmington Rd.).
Visitation Sunday and Monday 12- 9 p.m.
In lieu of Flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Humane Society, 26711 Northwestern Highway, Ste. 175, Southfield, MI 48034. www.thayer-rock.com
GERALD CURTSINGER
It is with great sadness that we learned about the passing of Specs grad Dr. Gerald "Jerry" Curtsinger on May 22, 2006.
Jerry was one of the most respected audio operators in the Detroit area. He often headed up the audio feeds for Detroit sports teams and was always on the "first call" list when any of the networks came to town.
In addition, Jerry was an associate professor of Communication Studies at the University of Detroit-Mercy since 1989.
He is missed by all who knew him.
Dick Kernen and Jim Ellis
JAMES ELLIS
We are deeply saddened to report the untimely death of Specs grad Jim
Ellis.
Jim graduated
in the mid-'70s and enjoyed a successful career as Morning Air
Talent at several
Michigan radio stations, most recently in the area of Traverse City, Michigan.
He died Saturday, June 24, 2006, of a heart attack.
He was one of the funniest people we've ever known and he will be greatly missed.
Jim is survived by his two daughters; Theresa and Amy Ellis, sister; Leona (Rick) Hathaway, brothers; Karl Ellis and Paul (Vicki) Ellis. He was predeceased by his parents, Betty Lou and Delbert Ellis.
His arrangements were handled by Wasik Funeral Home in Warren, MI 48093.Jim was laid to rest in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.
Sabrina Black
SABRINA BLACK
Tenacity is a word most people would use to describe Specs Howard graduate, Sabrina Black, both during her career as a female sportscaster for WDFN-AM and her six-year battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Despite the endless health issues she endured throughout the illness (two bone marrow transplants, radiation, graft-versus-host disease, chemotherapy, two serious falls, low blood pressure, new tumors and heart failure), news of Sabrina's passing on Monday, March 20, 2006, came almost as a surprise.
After all, she surpassed all medical expectations and prognoses for such a long time and her optimism, determination and humor never wavered. She'd pick herself up after hearing bad news and keep going.
As Wojo put it during WDFN's Stoney and Wojo show on Tuesday morning: "When you fight that hard, you're supposed to win."
But while the outcome is certainly not what anyone hoped, Sabrina did emerge a winner by making an impact on the public and for refusing to go quietly. For six years, she offered her story to her friends from WDFN by helping to raise money and awareness for the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society during Stoney & Wojo's Annual Radiothon.
News articles and blogs were written; benefits given (twice by WRIF to help her and husband DJ Steve Black pay medical bills), and her amazing attitude wasdiscussed both on and off the air.
Sabrina won people over and in her memory, more money will be raised to help other people afflicted by the disease.
Steve Black has converted the Sabrina Black Fund, formed to help pay his wife's medical bills, to a non-profit organization. His hope is that it will pay the medical bills of cancer patients 100%.
Donations may be sent to: Sabrina Black Fund c/o WRIF Radio,
One Radio Plaza
Detroit, MI 48220-2140
Cancer may have taken Sabrina's life, but it can never take away her spirit.
