Posted on 12/09/2004 8:12:58 PM PST by Reaganesque
Thursday, December 9, 2004
BOSTON - David Brudnoy, the most recognized voice of Boston talk radio for more than a quarter of a century, died Thursday night at Massachusetts General Hospital, his radio station, WBZ-AM, reported. He was 64.
Brudnoy, whose soothing voice could be heard every week night in 38 states and in Canada on WBZ since 1986, announced on air in September, 2003 that he was suffering from merkel cell carcinoma, a form of rare but treatable skin cancer. He had already lived with AIDS for more than a decade, beating a viral infection that nearly took his life in 1994.
His death came a day after, in an interview conducted at his bedside at Massachusetts General Hospital, he announced the cancer had spread into his liver and kidneys - and that he was ready to die.
``I am not asking my doctors to do anything illegal,'' Brudnoy told veteran news anchor Gary LaPierre. ``I wish I could but they won't. I will make it through. My head is completely accepting of this. I am absolutely ready.''
He left his show in November of last year to fight the cancer, recovered and returned in March, interviewing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry [related, bio], Gov. Mitt Romney [related, bio] and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura in his first night back. His voice was noticeably more hoarse.
``We're guaranteed nothing in life except life itself, and what we get is an adventure, not always a happy one but always a learning experience as well as, like now, a time of fear and maybe even (I hope temporary) despair,'' he said at the time.
But Brudnoy was hospitalized again this month, and his condition deteriorated quickly.
Wednesday, after his final interview aired, elected officials including Sen. Edward Kennedy and Gov. Mitt Romney and everyday listeners who had come to know him from their radios called to offer rememberances and thanks.
Brudnoy had been optimistic about beating the cancer, not just because of the expert medical care he was receiving, but because he had been living with AIDS for nearly a decade.
``I've lived nine years since fall 1994, defying the odds, and unless my nine lives have been used up, I'll survive this too,'' he said.
Brudnoy revealed in 1994 that he was gay and had AIDS after he was hospitalized with a viral infection that almost took his life. He said at the time that he only expected to live five or six more years. The cancer had nothing to do with AIDS, he said.
Brudnoy's radio show touched on almost any topic, from politics, to current events, to the arts. He was known for his intellectual thoughtfulness, his sense of humor and his easygoing manner with callers, who came from all walks of life.
His loyal listeners revolted in the early 1990s when he was taken off the air in favor of cheaper syndicated talk programming. Listeners boycotted the station and advertisers and Brudnoy was back on the air within weeks.
Though most well known for his broadcasting career that started in 1971 at WGBH-TV in Boston, he was also wrote movie reviews for suburban newspapers and lectured at a number of area colleges, most recently at Boston University. His articles have been published in The New York Times, National Review, TV Guide, New Republic and many more.
``David was a breath of fresh air on the faculty,'' said Robert Zelnick, chairman of the journalism department at Boston University, where Brudnoy taught a media criticism class. ``He challenged students ... he made them think critically.''
He started his talk radio career at WHDH-AM in 1976, then moved to WRKO-AM in 1981.
His memoirs published in 1997, ``Life is Not a Rehearsal,'' chronicled his battle with HIV.
Brudnoy was a Republican until 1998 when he officially switched to the Libertarian Party.
Brudnoy, born in Minneapolis, received a bachelor's degree in Japanese studies from Yale, a master's in Far Eastern studies from Harvard, a master's in the history of American civilization and a doctorate in history, both from Brandeis University.
I want to tell you to go to hell, but that kind of thing is frowned on around here.
I want you to try to imagine how much that means to me. Really. I'm touched. I'm rethinking my whole outlook on life as a result of your erudition and amazing insight. You never know when just a few well-placed words can make a difference. I would like to express to you how appreciative I am, but that kind of thing is frowned on around here.
This is the part where you show your chritian love, eh? I am none too impressed. It seems that your ability to forgive and to love your neighbor as yourself has been severely impaired. I believe it was Jesus who said "Judge Not, Least You Be Judged."
Brudnoy prob'ly did more for our cause than most of us here will have the opportunity to do. He always seemed like somebody who really would have been a treat to know.
He received AIDS as his compensation for willful homosexual behavior, specifically oral sex with other men. After he was diagnosed with AIDS he concealed it for six years before acknowledging the disease. I wonder how many other people he infected.
That's the most accurate obituary I've ever seen.
How nice, a "libertarian" opposed to free association, and an advocate of the "rights" of his fellow sodomites right up to the bitter end. Again, good riddance.
Actually it was two and a half years ago. I have seen no evidence that he repented of HomosexualAddiction. It, like Heroin, Cocaine, and Alchohol addiction has a low cure rate but it is always worth it to quit and repent. That would have been a wonderful accomplishment had he chosen to take it.
Ohhhh, I've heard him numerous times raise his voice at those of us that think letting gays serve openly in the military is a mistake. Ditto the Boy Scout. Generally he was even tempered though.
He never said how he contracted AIDS, but I do know he regularly went to Thailand during the seventies and eighties. I remember him speaking about it when he was on WHDH and later WRKO. Draw your own conclusions.
You make a salient point, however his human failings (certainly a perverse lack of self control) do not diminish the good he espoused and did. Where else could the average guy call up and talk to Bob Bork or Bill Buckley? Until 1989 he was never "out", though those of us who listened had some suspiciions...similar to those I now have about South Carolina's Senior Senator. Brudnoy had a knack for bringing in some of the best know folks in the country; the folks in his listening area were fortunate.
Bad role model? Yes, certainly in some ways. It's not my job to judge him...not now at least.
I think he was not opposed to free association, only supportive of those seeking to reverse the policy. BTW, I think he was wrong both as regards the military and the Boy Scouts.
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