Goodbye Lopez (98 Rock, Baltimore MD)
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JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
I've had very ecclectic tastes in music over my life time, including listening to several iterations of 98 Rock during it's history in broadcasting from the Baltimore, MD area.
98 Rock (WIYY, FM, 97.9 actually if I recall correctly) was known as an album rock station, and new rock station during it's growth cycle. It tried hard to compete with D.C. 101 from the DC area, though neither station ever really acknowledged the other. Mutual respect is what I think most would describe it as.
During the time that I was listening to 98 Rock, I remember laughing at the news report segments and current event segments when Lopez would use his acid tongue and wit to rant about some issue or point out the stupidity behind another.
Unfortunatley, Lopez was advised in the last year (give or take) that he had inoperable cancer and was going to die from it. He put up a great fight, including working until virtually the end. He joked many times that the morning show he was a part of was going to kill him, or that "today must not be my day to die", and such.
More unfortunately, tonite while cruising the net for news, I see the following news update / blog entry on DCRTV.com. Linked here. Note that link is time/date sensitive, so you may see current news later if you click on the link.
The informaiton is as follows:
Lopez Is Dead - 5/22 - 98 Rock morning newsman Lopez (left), 51, lost his battle with lung cancer Sunday. He was diagnosed with the disease in early 2004 and went public soon thereafter. "Since 98 Rock's inception over 28 years ago, we have had more than 10 morning shows," said WIYY (98 Rock)/WBAL General Manager Ed Kiernan. "Every show included 'Lopez.' He was the driving force behind each show. An unabashed liberal, he was absolute in his beliefs. Lopez was extremely bright, incredibly passionate with an extraordinary sense of humor." Robert Edward Lopez is survived by his wife, Jean "Trixie," and his daughter Leandra. A scholarship will be set up in Leandra's name. More at 98online.com, at wbal.com, and in the Baltimore Sun.....
98 Rock (WIYY, FM, 97.9 actually if I recall correctly) was known as an album rock station, and new rock station during it's growth cycle. It tried hard to compete with D.C. 101 from the DC area, though neither station ever really acknowledged the other. Mutual respect is what I think most would describe it as.
During the time that I was listening to 98 Rock, I remember laughing at the news report segments and current event segments when Lopez would use his acid tongue and wit to rant about some issue or point out the stupidity behind another.
Unfortunatley, Lopez was advised in the last year (give or take) that he had inoperable cancer and was going to die from it. He put up a great fight, including working until virtually the end. He joked many times that the morning show he was a part of was going to kill him, or that "today must not be my day to die", and such.
More unfortunately, tonite while cruising the net for news, I see the following news update / blog entry on DCRTV.com. Linked here. Note that link is time/date sensitive, so you may see current news later if you click on the link.
The informaiton is as follows:
Lopez Is Dead - 5/22 - 98 Rock morning newsman Lopez (left), 51, lost his battle with lung cancer Sunday. He was diagnosed with the disease in early 2004 and went public soon thereafter. "Since 98 Rock's inception over 28 years ago, we have had more than 10 morning shows," said WIYY (98 Rock)/WBAL General Manager Ed Kiernan. "Every show included 'Lopez.' He was the driving force behind each show. An unabashed liberal, he was absolute in his beliefs. Lopez was extremely bright, incredibly passionate with an extraordinary sense of humor." Robert Edward Lopez is survived by his wife, Jean "Trixie," and his daughter Leandra. A scholarship will be set up in Leandra's name. More at 98online.com, at wbal.com, and in the Baltimore Sun.....