Condolences: Jim Russ
• Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Jim Russ, morning traffic anchor for Hearst’s WBAL and WIYY (98 Rock)/Baltimore for the past decade, who died suddenly at his home on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. He would have turned 58 on Thursday.
The sad news was delivered to the Hearst radio and television staff in an email from Pres./GM Cary Pahigian, News Director Jeff Wade, WBAL PD Scott Masteller and 98 Rock PD Rick Strauss that called Russ “the unquestioned Dean of Baltimore traffic reporting.” Russ enjoyed a successful 35-year radio career in Washington and in Baltimore, including stints at WTOP/Washington and Total Traffic, but his connection to WBAL dates back to 1984 when he first secured an internship while a student at Towson University. In 2011, Russ came back to WBAL NewsRadio, this time as morning traffic anchor, and along the way helped mentor a generation of traffic reporters in the DC/Baltimore area.
The memo read, “A visit to Jim’s Traffic Center often appeared to the unfamiliar as barely controlled chaos, but where others heard a cacophony of noise from the scanners, Jim heard a symphony that told him the story on the roads each morning. He could navigate dozens of traffic cameras with an eagle eye for the slightest hint of a slowdown, interpreting mountains of information into concise reporting that the audience could easily understand while regularly beating the competition.”
The memo continued, “All of this would be a remarkable legacy on its own, but leaves out the most critical part of the story: NO ONE loved the job of reporting traffic more than Jim did. He saw it as his duty to keep people in Baltimore moving to their destinations as quickly as possible and attacked that responsibility with passion and dedication. The sterling reputation of WBAL as a news and information leader was strengthened throughout Jim’s tenure, and his departure leaves a void both professionally and personally for his colleagues who enjoyed his company and commitment to excellence.” In conclusion, the memo stated, “It is said, ‘they don’t make ’em like they used to’ — that doesn’t apply here, because there was only one Jim Russ, and there is no one like him, before, now or since. He will be dearly missed.”
Russ is survived by his daughter, Molly, sister, Cathi, and her husband, Jim Hergenroder, brother Tom, and Russ’ partner, Alice Young. Memorial arrangements are pending. More details about Russ and his career are posted at WBAL.com.
