Posted by Burton Allan on March 25, 2000 at 17:19:10:
In Reply to: Bill Epperhart 1948-2000 posted by Ted David on March 22, 2000 at 07:00:01:
I won't pretend to have been very close to Bill.
Bill and Jeff Kroll and Bruce Leonard and Scott Simensky and a few others were a bit older than I. But, I encountered Bill on several occasions while I worked for Bill Mozer at WCWP and a few times after that, socially, through Bill Mozer. I can honestly say with all my heart and without any kind of exaggeration or spin - that in each and every encounter I had with Bill - he made me feel welcome. Bill was a warm and genuine person and he greeted this "kid" with respect and friendship and genuine warmth. I remember the last couple of times I saw Bill very well. Bill and I got into a conversation I cherish, at a small reunion, where he shared many great stories from WABC and WNBC. One thing led to another and I recall that he asked me to mail him a copy of an old Vernon with a "V" aircheck and a VHS copy of a CNBC special that our fellow alumni, Ted David, had hosted interviewing the late great Jack Spector from WMCA. I sent both tapes to Bill, of course, and he sent me a note thanking me. Our last in-person chat was a brief encounter at Bill Mozer's house when Bill was picking up a computer part, a few years ago, and as usual, he warmly greeted me and we chatted briefly. The very last communication I had with Bill was in an e-mail in which he responded courteously with an acknowledgment of his receipt of the e-mail and an apology because he was very involved in a project and just too busy to respond for awhile. I feel like a better person for knowing him in the brief way that I did. I cherish our conversations about WNBC and WABC, very much, because he brought to life "my heroes" and those two radio stations which I dreamed of working at, someday. Just a great guy. God rest him and Thanks a bunch, God, for the privilege of knowing him. I'm better for it. And I'd like to add, that after writing this e-mail - and viewing the message board - that it also brought a smile to my face to see some of the names on the board that I haven't spoken with, in years. It's amazing what time does to memories. I look back with a smile thinking about some of the familiar names that I see on the message board. Even people that I wasn't close to. It's funny because there will be one or two little incidents that somehow get imprinted from even a brief encounter that the other person might not even remember that I now remember with a smile. Like Alan Seltzer. I can remember working with Candy on the 6pm WCWP News and how she'd run to Alan complaining about some sexist language or correct me on it. When I think of Scott Seminsky - I keep remembering his opening line every single weekend on Maximum Music - "Hi, Scott Simensky. What a great day for the beach" or running into Jeff Kroll briefly when he'd meet Pat and she'd be closing up the music library and let me get an extra minute in there to find something. Another person who was also super was Bruce Leonard. He was also willing to "share" and make time for the younger students when he'd visit Mozer. And, I can still remember - like yesterday - a couple of my "Options" radio-talk specials where I invited prominent radio folk as guests and on one ocassion, Jay Thomas had to cancel, at the last minute, because of a commercial voice-over he was committed to and I ran to Mozer and I said we need a guest, at the last minute. Buzz Brindle from WNBC and Marvin Kitman from Newsday had already been booked. Mozer gave a call to Ted David who agreed to bail me out and do the show.
Anyway, lots of great memories - at least for me -and I am reliving all of them - why? Because of this sad ocassion. Well, actually I'm smiling and it is Bill Epperhart at work. Bringing me together with some fond memories. So, thanks, Bill, for putting a smile on my face - in life - and getting me to think back of some "fun" things now - which also bring a smile to me. I can honestly say - whenever I think of Bill Epperhart - a smile comes across my face. And it is just because wherever there is someone or something "good" - good comes out and in this case - lots of smiles. Thanks for the smiles, Bill.