R.I.P.: Boston Radio, TV Personality Tony Pepper

Tony Pepper, who had a successful run as a radio talk show cohost on WRKO 680 AM after leaving WBZ-TV , died last Tuesday of complications from diabetes and heart disease.

He was 79, according to Boston.com.

Tony Pepper

“He was a good ad-libber. That really helped, too,” former WBZ colleague Jack Williams said. “Both of us had the gift for gab, and Tony was very good at that, and not intimidated by live TV or being somewhere in the field.”

When the two teamed up at WBZ, “it just clicked. We worked well together and the ratings went up big time,” Williams said.

He added that they benefited from a ratings boost provided by the ballplayers in Fenway Park. WBZ broadcast that fall’s World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, which lasted seven games and was considered one of the most thrilling fall classics ever.

“So we had numbers leading into our late newscast that were astronomical,” Williams said. “I think at the time we were the most watched local newscast in the country.”

In a statement, WBZ said that “Tony was a wonderful person and a passionate anchor who was a large part of WBZ-TV’s efforts in serving the community. Our hearts and prayers are with the Pepper family during this difficult time.”

Before he was courted by WBZ, Mr. Pepper had worked in radio and television in his home state of California, and as an anchorman in Denver, and he knew the value of the broadcasters who sit behind the desk during high-profile news shows.