Remembering Matt Patrick

We are saddened to report that veteran air personality Matt Patrick, morning news anchor on iHeartMedia News/Talk 740 KTRH/Houston, died yesterday after a tough two-year battle with esophageal cancer. It was just last Wednesday when Patrick, whose real name was Michael Patrick Ryan, broke the news to his listeners that he had “exhausted all options” and was discontinuing his treatments.

Patrick had just celebrated his sixth anniversary with KTRH, but he notably spent 30+ years doing mornings on iHeartMedia Hot AC WKDD/Akron, OH until December 2009. The year before that, Patrick had already begun his transition to talk radio host with the launch of The Matt Patrick Show on WHLO/Akron. He later moved the show to WLW/Cincinnati and WTAM/Cleveland before landing in Houston in 2011.

Keith Kennedy, iHeartMedia Area SVP of Programming, North Ohio and longtime PD of WKDD said of his friend and former colleague, “Matt was a gifted performer on the radio, but most importantly, a father, friend and husband. The WKDD family sends our best to his family. Thanks for the memories… the world won’t be the same.”

Patrick is survived by his best friend and wife of 15 years, Paula, their son, Jake; daughters Alexandra and Alanna Ryan; mother Marie and stepfather John Drummond, two sisters and numerous other relatives. At Patrick’s request, a memorial service will be held in Houston, followed by a private family service and burial in Ohio. There is a lengthy look back at Patrick’s career and a heartfelt statement from his family posted on the KTRH website.