Remembering Richard Lorenzo
• Richard J. Lorenzo of New Providence, NJ, longtime educator, broadcaster, and vast repository of musical knowledge, passed away on the evening of October 30, 2023, with the love and support of his family. He was 78 years old.
Lorenzo began his broadcasting career in 1978 at Buckley Radio in New York. From there, he served as Music Director at WWYZ/Waterbury, CT and WCBS-FM/New York. Lorenzo most notably worked for ABC Radio Network in New York as General Manager of the company’s nationwide Direction Network. He was most proud to be the producer of ABC Radio’s long-form radio programs, Super ’70s with Dan Ingram, Memory Weekend with Bruce Morrow, and a researcher and contributor to a number of books and magazines about radio and rock ‘n roll.
Corinne Baldassano, currently SVP of Programming & Operations for Take On the Day, LLC / The Dr. Laura Program, said of her former colleague, “Richard was a fixture on the Oldies scene and in New York radio back in the day. He and I worked together at the ABC Radio Networks — Richard was the Manager of the ABC Direction Network, and I was the Director of the ABC Entertainment Network. He led a full life and had a record archive that was unparalleled at the time. And his mind was like the best music library you could ever dig into. He truly loved radio and got the biggest charge out of actually making money doing what he loved.”
Lorenzo graduated from Seton Hall University in 1967 and received his MBA there a decade later. While attending school there Lorenzo employed his extensive musical knowledge and creativity (as “Rick Lonz“) on the Relic Rack Review radio show that began at Seton Hall’s WSOU and continued throughout his life. Later in his career, Lorenzo returned to his education roots, most notably at his Alma Mater, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, NJ. He retired in 2016.
Lorenzo is survived by Margaret, his wife of 47 years, daughters Kristin (and husband, Martin Lewit of Summit, NJ); Jacqueline Looloian (and husband, Robert of New Providence, NJ); younger brother John Lorenzo (and wife, Valerie), and a proud grandfather to Oliver Lewit, Elisabeth (Libby) Looloian, Madelyn Looloian, Sara Looloian and Sofia Lewit. Lorenzo’s complete obituary is posted here.
