R.I.P: Jeff Levine, Longtime L-I Radio Programmer

Jeff Levine

Jeff Levine, former program director of WBAB /102.3 FM Radio Long Island, has died from an apparent heart attack at age 58. During his career he ascend the ladder to occupy the key slot in one of Long Island’s most popular media outlets.

Levine, who also served as program direct at WLIR in the 1990s and was an executive at newspapers including Newsday, The Hartford Courant and the South Florida-based Sun Sentinel, died of cardiac arrest on Aug. 17.

Levine got his professional start at WBAB in 1979 as an intern while attending the upstate university. He moved back to Long Island after graduation, and stayed with the company until 1996, becoming program manager.

“Jeff pushed himself and everyone else in a quest for excellence,” said Bob Buchmann, who was vice president at the station for more than two decades. “And that’s what made me happiest about awarding him the program director position. He was incredibly creative and loved the music we played.”

Paul Fleishman, former vice president of public affairs at Newsday and one-time general manager of WBAB, said: "Jeff was a rare blend of talent, smarts, boundless energy and a big heart. Through his passions for media, marketing and music he made a difference wherever he worked, and with the lives and careers of those lucky enough to work with him. His passing at such an early age is a great loss.“