Howie Chizek
Howie Chizek | |
---|---|
Born | Howard Alan Chizek June 9, 1947 |
Died | June 16, 2012 | (aged 65)
Other names | Howmeister |
Years active | 1974–2012 |
Career | |
Show | The Howie Chizek Show |
Station | WNIR 100.1 FM |
Time slot | Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
Style | Talk/Call-in |
Country | United States |
Website | www |
Howard Alan "Howie" Chizek (June 9, 1947 – June 16, 2012) was an American
Career
Radio
Chizek got his start in radio at
Cleveland Cavaliers
Chizek was a former
Cleveland Force
Chizek was also the former
Other announcing work
Throughout the 1970s, Chizek served as the public address announcer for two pro-hockey clubs, the
Personal life
Early life
Chizek was born in
In 1964, Chizek started a band called The Runaways for which he sang lead and played the guitar. They played the Cleveland and Northeast Ohio area and, in 1965, they recorded a single "I'm a Runaway"/"It Can't Be Long." Chizek wrote both numbers, and "I'm a Runaway" became a hit in Northeast Ohio. The band broke up when Chizek went to college.[8]
In high school, Chizek's powerful voice contributed to the Heights High Choir.[5] After graduation from Cleveland Heights High School in 1965, Chizek received a bachelor's degree in communications from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.[6] Chizek was later inducted into the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.[7]
Later life
Chizek lived in
Philanthropy
Chizek founded several charities, including the Helping Hand program to feed people in Akron and New Adventures youth program.[10] He spent much of his time and money on the New Adventures group whose goal was to mentor young boys as future leaders. He would spend many months of each year coordinating their annual summer trip to Orlando, Florida and would spend time with the boys throughout the rest of the year to foster mentorship and community. For 21 years, he was a volunteer assistant head football and baseball coach at
Death
On June 16, 2012, Chizek suffered a heart attack in
WNIR talk shows were flooded with phone calls in the days following Chizek's death.[13] Although Chizek's burial at Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg was private,[14] his funeral service was broadcast on WNIR.[15]
References
- ^ Pollack, James (16 June 2012). "Legendary Akron radio host Howie Chizek dies of heart attack". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012.
- ^ Sever, Mike (16 February 2012). "WNIR celebrating 50 years on the air". Record Courier. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
- ^ Wittenberg, Ed (20 June 2012). "Updated: Radio talk show host Howie Chizek, Cleveland Heights High School graduate, dies at 65". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
- ^ "NEWS … AROUND … THE … LEAGUE". The Optimist. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. 22 June 2012.
- ^ Levine, Les (18 June 2012). "WNIR's Chizek one of a kind behind any microphone". Cleveland Jewish News.
- ^ Feran, Tom (17 June 2012). "Howie Chizek, Akron radio host and former Cavs announcer, is dead at 65". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
- ^ "HOWARD "Howie" CHIZEK". Cleveland Plain Dealer. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Lehman, Doc (19 June 2012). "The Radio King Was a Rocker". WordPress.com.
- ^ Cooper, Mitch (18 June 2012). "Twinsburg's Howie Chizek, WNIR Radio Host Dead at 65". Twinsburg Patch.
- ^ Powell, Cheryl (16 June 2012). "Akron radio host Howie Chizek dies at 65". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ Pavuk, Amy (18 June 2012). "Ohio broadcaster, former Cavaliers announcer dies in Orlando". Orlando Sentinel.
- ^ Staff and Wire Reports (18 June 2012). "Longtime WNIR host Howie Chizek was traveling for charity work". Record Courier.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Osborne, Pamela (June 19, 2012). "Akron: Remembering WNIR's Howie Chizek". WKYC.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ Kaufmann, Tina (19 June 2012). "Memorial service set for longtime WNIR radio personality". NewsNet5.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012.
- ^ Wittenberg, Ed (June 20, 2012). "Radio talk show host Howie Chizek, Cleveland Heights High School graduate, dies at 65". Sun News. Retrieved June 25, 2012.