WTIC NewsTalk 1080 Hartford posted news on
its website over the weekend of
the death of their longtime friend and colleague Arnold Dean. WTIC General
Manager Suzanne McDonald said on hearing of his passing, “Our condolences go
out to Arnold’s family. He was a treasured member of our WTIC family, and a
much-beloved member of the broadcast and sports community
WTIC Operations Manager Steve Salhany said, “Arnold will be
missed by the entire WTIC family. He was a consummate professional, consummate
gentleman, and an all-around good person.”
Arnold Dean’s warmth on the air was matched by his geniality
off-air. He was a thoughtful and comfortable co-worker.
Arnold’s broadcast career spanned 64 years, starting as a
teenage broadcaster in his home town of Cortland, New York. He cut back his
work schedule in recent years, but never really retired — taking “Husky Extra
Points” calls in-studio two weeks before
his death and co-hosting the “Tailgate Show” at Rentschler in the 2012 season.
Arnold joined the WTIC family in July, 1965.
Starting in 1976, Arnold hosted one of the earliest
all-sports call-in shows, “WTIC SportsTalk with Arnold Dean,” with a calm and
even-handed demeanor perhaps best illustrated by the two-visored baseball cap
he was given at a speaking engagement — a cap reading Boston Red Sox on one
brim, New York Yankees on the other.
Though Arnold may be best remembered as a sportscaster and
sports talk show host, he was also an expert on the Big Band era, and hosted
music shows, including “Meet Me on The Plaza,” “Sunday Showcase,” and “One
Night Stand With the Big Bands.” The Library of Congress now contains copies of
his interviews with bandleaders and musicians featured on the program.
