R.I.P. Illinois Radio Personality Jim Lynam Was 42

Jim Lynam

Jim Lynam, afternoon host on WFXF 103.9 FM The Fox  in Dundee, IL and former longtime personality on WKQX /Q101, passed away Tuesday morning

He had just turned 42 years old last month, according to Chicagoland Radio&Media.

According to family members, Lynam died as a result from a sudden aortic dissection. There was no advance warning of trouble with his heart, other than his not feeling well a few days ago.

Lynam began in radio as a promotional assistant at the former WRCX 103.5 FM, from 1995-1998. Along with that station's morning show, "Mancow's Morning Madhouse," Lynam moved over to WKQX-FM/Q101 in 1998, staying until Mancow's exit in 2006.

Although Mancow was released, WKQX-FM wanted to keep the many talents of Lynam, making him a member of the station's new ensemble morning show, "The Morning Fix." Even after that experimental show died, the station kept Lynam and "The Morning Fix's" main host Alan Cox on in mornings. He remained with the station through 2009.

In December 2014, Lynam returned to radio, this time as host on suburban WFXF-FM, working the 3:00pm-7:00pm shift. There, he rejoined his Q101 co-worker, Brian Sherman.

WFXF-FM Program Director Ryan Wild said in a statement to CRM: "We are devastated by the sudden loss of Jim. He was such an intense light of good in this place, and a day didn't go by where he didn't find a way to lift our spirits. Jim is truly a human being that can't be replaced, and he will live on in all of us who were fortunate to have the opportunity to have him in our lives. Today we lost one of the truly great guys in life, and in the radio business. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the Lynam family during this difficult time."