By: Carter Wyckoff

Radio Ink

Feb 5, 2019

 

iHeartmedia’s WBZ NewsRadio in Boston has reported that legendary morning news anchor Gary LaPierre died peacefully on Monday, surrounded by his family. LaPierre was recently diagnosed with leukemia. He was 76.

The station reported on its website that “for almost 44 years LaPierre’s calm and steady voice prepared New Englanders for the day ahead. He told adults the solemn truths of our world and delighted children by reading the name of their town during the WBZ Storm Center school closing reports. LaPierre started out in the mail room of WBZ in the 1960’s and worked as a general assignment reporter before moving into the anchor booth.”

LaPierre retired in 2006.

“I am deeply saddened by this news,” Bill Flaherty, Director of Operations at WBZ NewsRadio said “If you were looking to work hard and also have lots of fun, Gary was the guy you need to be with. My heart goes out to his wife Peg and his family.”

Peter Casey, WBZ NewsRadio’s former Program Director who worked with LaPierre for two decades, remembered him as a man of heart and compassion, “He was the perfect person to be the voice of WBZ and news radio for New England. His presence on the air, in the newsroom, and in our lives was huge… He could not have had a better partner than his wife Peg, and he always spoke glowingly about his boys Mike and Dean and their families.”

Among his numerous achievements include LaPierre’s induction to the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame , Associated Press, Radio-Television News Director Association (RTNDA) Awards, the national 1998 Edward R. Murrow award for Best Radio Newscast, and he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the March of Dimes Achievement in Radio Organization in 1997.

In 1986 he received the Gold Award for Best Newsman of the Year at the International Radio Festival in New York City.