RIP: Erie Radio Legend Frank Martin

Erie Times-News photo

Frank Martin, the disc jockey whose infectious laugh lightened Erie airwaves for more than five decades, has died.

According to a story at goerie.com, Martin died in Erie, PA on Monday after a short battle with lung cancer. He was 85.

Linda Wambaugh, one of Martin's three daughters, said her father once broadcast his morning show by phone from the front closet of their home when a snowstorm trapped him at the house.

He loved his job, but family always came first, she said.

"To us he was just Dad. To everyone else, he was 'the Morning Mayor,'" Wambaugh said, referring to the moniker given to Martin by then-Erie Mayor Louis J. Tullio.

"We were just extraordinarily proud of him, extraordinarily proud of his career and the man that he was," she said.

Martin started out on WJET-FM/102.3, and quickly became one of its most popular DJs as part of a ratings-leading morning team with Craig Warvel.

He retired after 55 years on Erie radio on July 4, 2003, after working the last eight years of his career at what was then WFGO-FM/Froggy 94.7.

"He had the pleasure of waking up Erie for many, many years, and (listeners) had the pleasure of enjoying his wit and the information he provided," said Rick Rambaldo, who owned Froggy during part of Martin's time there.

"Frank was as professional as an on-air personality could be," Rambaldo said. "He loved what he did."

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