[ad_1]
YOUNGSTOWN – Broadcaster Pete Gabriel, known for launching the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Mahoning Valley, has died.
His death was announced Wednesday on the News Radio 570 WKBN website. He was 83 years old.
His involvement in the parade’s long tradition began with an on-air conversation in 1979 and has continued every year except 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He had commented on his Facebook page: “I’m really proud to have created an event involving thousands both in the parade and seeing it. A real family
tradition that has been part of Youngstown, Ohio for half a century.
According to 570 WKBN, he was born in the Bronx, NY and graduated from high school in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He then enlisted in the Air Force and began his radio career in 1958 at Lajes Field, a base 500 miles off the coast of Portugal.
After stops at radio stations in Harrisburg, Kansas City and Columbus, Gabriel made Youngstown his home at 570 WKBN.
He hosted programs and served as program director, according to the station. “He was the architect of the transition from music to spoken word programming,” he said.
[ad_2]
Source link