Condolences: Nathan Richie
• We were deeply saddened to learn that longtime Charlotte radio pro Nathan Richie died in a motorcycle accident last Saturday morning in Indian Land, SC, while on his way to meet his father-in-law to celebrate Father’s Day. He was 53.
As reported in depth by The Charlotte Observer, Richie had been working at what he described as his “dream job” — Director of Digital Programming for Entercom Charlotte since January of this year. His four-decade-long radio career started in a familiar fashion — in the ’80s, while still in high school, Richie climbed into a chicken costume as the mascot for the former WBCY — which, ironically, is now Entercom Hot AC WLNK (107.9 The Link). He was also an air personality on WLKO (102.9 The Lake) and WEND (106.5 The End), to name a few stops. Richie also taught at the Carolina School of Broadcasting, worked for years at his father’s advertising agency and started his own marketing firm.
“He was really a great example for anybody of never giving up, and when the walls came up and the doors closed, he just looked for another door,” said longtime Charlotte radio personality Chuck Boozer, who worked with Richie when he produced Boozer’s morning show at the former WEZC in the ’80s. “He reinvented himself many, many times.”
Fellow Charlotte radio fixture Jack Daniel hired Richie at WEND in 2000 and at WLKO in 2014. As Daniel told the Observer, “We had lunch two or three weeks ago, and Nate was just glowing about how much he loved his new job, and how the position was just so perfect for him.”
Richie leaves behind his two sons, Jonathan, 24, and Austin, 26, and his longtime soulmate, Wendy Wells. A memorial gathering for Richie will be held at 10:30am on Saturday at Hilton Charlotte University Place, 8629 J M Keynes Drive. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Lupus Foundation of North Carolina, or any reputable dog rescue organization.
