Longtime Stroudsburg PA morning host Gary Smith has departed Neversink Media Classic Hits “Pocono 96.7” WABT-FM Lehman Township PA in the aftermath of the death of co-host Elisa Chase earlier this month.
Smith and Chase had joined WABT-FM upon its launch in 2012. The pair had been together since she joined his show as an intern at Hot AC 93.5 WSBG Stroudsburg in 2002, where Smith anchored mornings from 1990-2007 until his firing for using the comments that got Don Imus fired from WFAN as the station’s “Phrase That Pays”. The duo hosted an internet based show inbetween their time at WSBG and WABT-FM.
Chase died earlier this month from complications from a sudden illness and Smith had taken a leave outside of one show last week. Following that show on January 21, Smith told station management that he can no longer do the show.
Owner Bud Williamson published the following letter to listeners announcing the departure,
As you likely have heard, we lost our beloved Elisa in early January. Between this and the sudden death of her husband, our entire organization is in pain over these losses. Gary has taken this quite hard as Elisa was his “Radio Wife”. In communicating with Gary in the days and weeks following Elisa’s untimely death, we made it clear to him that he take as much time off as he needed to overcome this loss. Gary returned to the air on January 21, but after the show told me he couldn’t do the show anymore.
Elisa was the anchor of the Gary In The Morning Show and so ably performed an enormous amount of behind the scenes work in addition to her presence on the show. Gary was the best at keeping everything in the studio flowing along… and, of course, being Gary.
While a larger broadcast company would have immediately plugged in a syndicated morning show from far away, our company is much smaller, local and respectful. We will not do that. Following the Gary In The Morning Show is no easy feat and our mission to place another show is enormous. That search has begun, and our goal is to have someone waking up the Poconos as quickly as possible along with restoring important elements that were featured on the show.
So many listeners have extended their support for Gary and our Pocono 96.7 family. Thank you from all of us – we all appreciate your kindness and love.
Sincerely,
Bud, Juli, Kerri, Mary, Bob, Greta, Rick, Tony, Linda, Kate and Gavin
