Popular Cleveland radio host dead at 91

If it's happening around us, post it here. All topics regarding our border states go here.

Moderators: Hoosier Daddy, The People's DJ, Arp2

Post Reply
User avatar
Dr. Whiplash
Member
Member
Posts: 694
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:35 am

Popular Cleveland radio host dead at 91

Post by Dr. Whiplash »

from http://www.cleveland.com

Chagrin Falls -- Fred Embrescia, a radio personality who began his career as a carpenter, died Tuesday at 91.

Embrescia was selected to supervise the construction of the Richfield Coliseum by Nick Mileti, founder of the Cavaliers and owner of the Indians at the time. The Coliseum opened in 1974. In 1975, when Embrescia was building and remodeling homes in Greater Cleveland, his two sons, Thomas and James, persuaded him to leave construction for the radio business. He joined his sons, also noted radio and television broadcasters, at their Cleveland-based radio stations WWWE (now WTAM), WMJI and WBBG.

It didn't take long for Embrescia to become a popular radio personality. He earned a reputation as a goodwill ambassador for the stations and Cleveland. He first worked as a public relations liaison for the stations. He also wrote public service announcements and read many of them on the air. Soon, he became a familiar voice on WRMR and WDOK, also owned by his sons' group.

Embrescia joined Bill Randle's morning program on WRMR, "The Music of Your Life." Then he joined Carl Reese's afternoon show. In the 1990s, Embrescia hosted radio station-sponsored bus trips to casinos in Atlantic City and Detroit. The trips frequently sold out and attracted as many as 500 listeners. Later, the trips expanded to Europe, Russia and Italy. Nearly 100 listeners joined him on the trips overseas. Embrescia shared stories about these trips on his own show on WRMR. He also read letters from listeners on the air. Many listeners identified with him and his stories about Cleveland, said his son, Thomas.

"Dad was a tradesman who was suddenly on the air," he said. "A lot of people who listened grew up not having the benefit of my generation, whose fathers sent us to college so we wouldn't have to be tradesmen."

Embrescia was popular at community events, where he was invited to spin his stories. He also found cooking to be a relaxing hobby and experimented with recipes. Illness forced him to retire in 2005. Embrescia was born in Cleveland and graduated from John Adams High School. He lived in Chagrin Falls for the past 16 years. His wife, Mary, died in 1976. They were married 36 years.
Post Reply