Local broadcasting icon always tried ‘to make people think’
DiAndrea remembered as man who loved his work, family and life
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A giant in the local broadcasting industry has passed away.
Dick DiAndrea, 77, Altoona, died Friday at his home following a brief illness.
DiAndrea began his broadcasting career May 1, 1960. He was named Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Radio Broadcaster of the Year in 2010. During his career, DiAndrea worked at WTRN-AM in Tyrone, WFBG-AM and WVAM-AM and WALY-FM in Altoona.
At one point in his career, he served as sales manager, station manager and then general manager at WFBG-AM. DiAndrea also worked in television, serving as host of the popular "American Bandstand" show on WFBG-TV in the 1960s.
Roger Corey, who first worked with DiAndrea in 1972, and co-hosted the Rog and Dick show on WALY-FM from 1991-2008, called him an icon in the local broadcasting industry.
"The footprint he left was really big, what he did in the local industry. The legacy he leaves is awfully wonderful," Corey said. "He meant so much to so many people in and out of the industry. He did a lot of behind the scenes things for the community."
Corey said DiAndrea was a mentor and friend.
"He loved his work, he loved his family and he loved life. When I was growing up in the business, I looked to him for ways to get better, improve my air personality to make my mark in the business. He knew how to connect with people and how to share what he knew. He wanted people to get better at what they were doing," Corey said. "He was one of my best all-time friends; he was a friend both in and out of business."
Sean McKay, an on air personality at WFBG-AM from 1972-98 and now an on air personality for WKMC-AM&FM, said DiAndrea was one of the funniest guys around.
"He knew his music; he knew the business. He could have worked at any market in the country if he wanted to. Dick had both the voice and the personality," McKay said.
"Back in those days, disc jockeys were stars," McKay said. "He was the one playing the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Kids listened to his night show. Kids went to bed back then with their transistor radios. Dick DiAndrea was Altoona; he was a true legend."
DiAndrea was a relic of the era when rock radio was king, and he managed to catch that wave at just the right time, said Jon McClintock, a former journalist at both WJAC-TV and WTAJ-TV.
"He could be the strongest memory of late childhood for thousands of area residents. And, like the survivor he was, he managed to make a morning team with Roger Corey that you can't find anywhere else nowadays," McClintock said. "Dick had a complicated life, but he owned it and it was often great fodder for his radio work. He could make you laugh about a traffic pile-up and you don't learn that talent. You were born with it."
DiAndrea and Don Runk (air name was Don Girard) became the first two-man morning show in the area in the 1970s at WVAM-AM.
"He was always trying to make people think. We would do commercials that weren't commercials. We would put them together for businesses that didn't exist and read them on the air. We got so much feedback with people calling in crazy ideas," said Runk, now of St. Augustine. Fla. "We got into some trouble. We had some good times."
DiAndrea was also well known for his role as host of "American Bandstand" on then WFBG-TV.
"He wanted to be Dick Clark, and he did it in Altoona," Runk said.
DiAndrea actually knew Clark, who hosted and produced the show beginning in 1956.
Tony Booth, who served as program director at WFBG-AM from 1977-85, remembers a trip he took with DiAndrea to Los Angeles.
"We were invited to Clark's home in Malibu. As soon as Dick Clark saw him, he gave him a big hug. They talked for about 10 to 15 minutes. There is no question he was the kind of broadcaster you don't see many of today. Everyone knew him. He had a big heart," said Booth, now of Richmond, Va.
DiAndrea was also a supporter of the St. Vincent de Paul Food For Families Soup Kitchen.
"He was very supportive and spoke highly of our fundraisers, how important they were. He really encouraged people to help us. He was always very kind and supportive to me. He was always very gracious," said director Sister Paula DelGrosso.
Friends will be received from 3 to 7 p.m. today at The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., where a vigil will be held.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Commital will be held at Calvary Cemetery.
Mirror staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.