Remembering Steve Berger
• Legendary broadcaster Steve Berger, who notably built Nationwide Communications into one of the most admired radio companies in our business, passed away Monday, June 27 at the age of 78.
Berger originally hailed from the Atlantic City area. He started his radio management career in Pittsburgh in his early ’30s as GM of ABC’s WDVE. In 1975 he moved over to WWSW Radio’s WPEZ as GM, and two years later was named GM at Heftel’s WKTQ (13Q). Berger joined Nationwide in the early ’80s and quickly rose through the ranks until he was named President of the company’s radio division with an impressive portfolio that included WNCI/Columbus, KZZP/Phoenix, KHMX Houston, KLUC/Las Vegas, WPOC/Baltimore, and KZAP/Sacramento.
Guy Zapoleon, former National PD for Nationwide, said of his former boss and mentor, “Steve was a true visionary of our business, a man who knew in the ’80s that radio’s future would become a content delivery system platform and would face the many challenges that lay ahead from other media and new technology, like satellite and internet. He also understood attention spans were ever-shrinking and radio needed to adjust its focus to that fact. As members of his incredible broadcasting team, we were exposed to great thinkers in many other fields which stimulated fresh and creative ideas from us rather than get trapped in old ways of thinking. With his motto of ‘Only The Best People,’ Steve built an incredible legacy of talent in both management and programming.
At this talented company there was VP of Radio Mickey Franko, Clancy Woods and Dan Morris; General Managers Dale Weber, Kevin Mashek, Palmer Pyle, Tom Weidel, Keith Gerst, Chris McMurray, Rick Weinkoff, Beau Phillips, Don Peterson and Jennifer Grimm. Nationwide also featured VPs of Programming Guy Zapoleon, Bill Richards, Dave Robbins, Pat Paxton, and Dave Van Stone, and programmers like Jerry Dean, Brian Thomas, Clarke Ingram, Pat McMahon, Bob Moody, Tom Cale, Denny Nugent and Chuck Holloway.”
Upon Nationwide’s sale to Jacor, Berger retired to Long Island and began teaching black and white photography, often displaying his photographs at local galleries. He and and his wife Ellen (pictured) were also active cat rescuers.
Zapoleon added, “Everyone of us was blessed to be in Nationwide Communications under the leadership and mentored by this incredible leader Steve Berger. Our condolences go out to Ellen and his entire family. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.” A celebration of Steve’s life is being planned for next month.
