Remembering Jamie Samuelsen
• Jamie Samuelsen, co-host of the Jamie & Stoney Show on Entercom Sports-Talk WXYT (97.1 The Ticket)/Detroit, died Saturday night after a two-year battle with colon cancer. He was only 48.
It was only last week when Samuelsen had revealed the news on-air, as he said, “Each morning since my diagnosis, I got up, turned on the radio mic and got to talk sports. I needed the escape from cancer, just like so many of our listeners who face hardships, grief and illness, too, they turned to us in the morning for some levity in this crazy world. So I wanted to continue to have fun and not let cancer get in the way of doing what I loved. Connecting with listeners, laughing, teasing Stoney, all of it, it helped me be normal, while continuing to fight this disease.”
Samuelsen was a 25-year veteran of Detroit Sports radio who joined The Ticket in 2012. One of Samuelsen’s longtime radio and TV co-hosts is Detroit News columnist Bob “Wojo” Wojnowski, who announced his friend’s passing on Twitter on Saturday night on behalf of the family, saying, “I am so sad and sorry to pass this along, at the family’s request. Jamie Samuelsen, the best damn friend you could ever have, a tremendous broadcaster on @971theticketxyt passed away tonight at 48. He was surrounded by his wonderful family, and he went peacefully.” Wojo also wrote a beautiful tribute to his fallen friend and colleague, which we urge you to read.
After revealing his cancer diagnosis, Samuelsen also urged his listeners to get a colonoscopy before the age of 50. “More people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colon cancer than ever before,” he said. “Make sure you talk with your doctor — and get that colonoscopy.”
Samuelsen passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife, Christy McDonald, and their three children, Caroline, 16; Josh, 14; and Catherine, 11. Services are pending. [Family photo from Instagram]
