R.I.P. Polka Personality Minni Florio Dies At 88

Minni Florio

Mary Ann “Minnie” Florio, better known has the longtime host of the “Minnie Polka Show” on WAPJ Radio 89.9 AM, Torrington, CT, passed away on Saturday.

According to her son Steven Florio, his mother hosted her last show on Monday before passing away on Saturday.

She was 88, according to registercitizen.com.

Florio had hosted her radio show for 16 years after serving as the bookkeeper and secretary for her husband’s construction company in Waterbury until their retirement.

“She was always grateful to WAPJ for giving her that chance,” said Barrie Soucy, program director at WAPJ. “She meant so much to the community and the radio station. She struggled with her health for a long time and she kept saying I have to come back in for my fans. She felt an obligation to her fans. If she could walk, she came in.”

“She was always involved with the polkas,” said Steven Florio. “She had a lot of friends who were in the bands and she would travel around Connecticut and Western Massachusetts to see them. She was always intrigued by it.”

Florio was responsible for bringing the first polka concert to Torrington.

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