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Monday, December 10, 2012

R.I.P.: WTIC’s Arnold Dean Was 82

WTIC NewsTalk 1080 Hartford posted news on its website over the weekend of the death of their longtime friend and colleague Arnold Dean. WTIC General Manager Suzanne McDonald said on hearing of his passing, “Our condolences go out to Arnold’s family. He was a treasured member of our WTIC family, and a much-beloved member of the broadcast and sports community

WTIC Operations Manager Steve Salhany said, “Arnold will be missed by the entire WTIC family. He was a consummate professional, consummate gentleman, and an all-around good person.”

Arnold Dean’s warmth on the air was matched by his geniality off-air. He was a thoughtful and comfortable co-worker.

Arnold’s broadcast career spanned 64 years, starting as a teenage broadcaster in his home town of Cortland, New York. He cut back his work schedule in recent years, but never really retired — taking “Husky Extra Points”  calls in-studio two weeks before his death and co-hosting the “Tailgate Show” at Rentschler in the 2012 season.

Arnold joined the WTIC family in July, 1965.

Starting in 1976, Arnold hosted one of the earliest all-sports call-in shows, “WTIC SportsTalk with Arnold Dean,” with a calm and even-handed demeanor perhaps best illustrated by the two-visored baseball cap he was given at a speaking engagement — a cap reading Boston Red Sox on one brim, New York Yankees on the other.

Though Arnold may be best remembered as a sportscaster and sports talk show host, he was also an expert on the Big Band era, and hosted music shows, including “Meet Me on The Plaza,” “Sunday Showcase,” and “One Night Stand With the Big Bands.” The Library of Congress now contains copies of his interviews with bandleaders and musicians featured on the program.

1 comment:

  1. I am sad to learn that Arnold died last December. But that feeling is tempered by remembering him so very fondly. I produced the Arnold Dean Talk Show from the late 1970's-early 1980's. Five nights a week, it was a real pleasure to work with him. He was always positive, always pleasant. He had solid opinions, yet was ready to hear anyone else's. He was a great sports host and a terrific guy. I am honored to have worked with him.

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