R.I.P.: Rick Sommers, Longtime NYC Radio Personality

Rick Sommers

Longtime New York City radio personality Rick Sommers has died from COVID 19, complicated by Multiple Sclerosis, on Wednesday September 6th.  He was 63.

Rick’s career began as a college student at WTKO, Ithaca NY. In 1982, he joined Long Island powerhouse WBLI-FM as its afternoon drive personality. But in 1990, New York City beckoned and after a brief stop at WYNY-FM to do country, he joined WLTW-/Lite FM, the city’s top rated adult music station, as a weekend and fill in personality. 

His availability and flexibility got him lots of airtime for more than a decade. He later worked at WNEW-FM before leaving radio to get his Masters in Social Work. In 2009, he joined AFTRA as its Broadcast Liaison, retiring from what became SAG-AFTRA in 2019.

In 2014, Rick and his brother, CBS News Correspondent Peter King, published their book, “Ithaca Radio,” a pictoral history of the place where they began their careers. Most recently, Rick co-hosted the Podcast, “Middle Age Warriors” with Chris Cimino.

Rick is survived by his life partner, Valerie Smaldone, their cat, Bailey, and his brother, Peter King.  Plans are pending for a memorial service to be held later this year.