[BC] Re: Jim Somich...

[David Reaves]

I met Jim Somich on a couple of occasions. He had decided to give up  
his job as Chief Engineer at Z100, to take an in-company promotion to  
Malrite's Cleveland TV station. He was soft-spoken and easy-going  
when interviewing me as his replacement. In our interview, Dean  
Thacker, Z's General Manager, called him "Pooh Bear," and the name fit.

When I got hired and came to work the first day at Z100, I found Jim  
had left me a radio station at the top of its form, where I didn't  
feel anything had to be taken care of immediately, and I could slowly  
acclimate myself to the job. It was the easiest job I have ever  
transitioned into, no small thanks to my predecessor.

A few years back he started an online discussion group about audio  
processing, which is where I got to know a lot of the people who have  
migrated to this list. So I have another thing to thank Jim for.

It's hard to believe he's passed on. My thoughts are with him and I  
say a prayer for the 'Pooh Bear' that gave me my big break at Z100.

Kind Regards,
David Reaves



On Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:14:16 -0500, "padrino" <padrino at telos- 
systems.com> wrote:
> Group,
>
> It's with a very heavy heart to share that Jim Somich has passed on  
> to the
> big audio processor in the sky...he was 65. Jim was a very successful
> broadcast engineer, as well as product developer. His career spanned
> radio, television, photography, movies, and just about any form of  
> media
> imaginable.
>
> Jim worked at KFI, KMET, WMMS, WHK, WHTZ, WJW, just to name a few  
> of the
> radio radio stations. He built quite a number of UHF TV stations for
> Malrite Communications, where, at one time, he was Director of Radio
> Engineering. He was also involved in a few ventures: Somich  
> Engineering,
> MicroCon Systems, and I'm sure a host of others. Jim, kept a  
> private life,
> and ventured into some interesting and alternative aspects of it.
>
> He was also the person, who took a chance on a goofy, long-haired,  
> 22 year
> old kid. Stuck him under his wing, and taught him the ropes of radio
> engineering. If not for Jim Somich sticking his neck out for this
> passionate over-achiever, then Frank Foti would never have seized the
> opportunity to follow an exciting path in this industry.
>
> More importantly he was, and will always remain, my friend. While  
> there
> are many wonderful memories of him, we sadly will not be able to  
> create
> new ones.
>
> Be at peace, life and our industry lost a good friend.
>
> -Frank Foti
>
>