Posted by Bud on November 12, 2010 at 09:58:16:
Longtime Chicago radio engineer Mark Zerang has been privately battling lung cancer for over two years. This month, he has gone public with his struggle, letting others know just what a tough situation he is now in.
For over 25 years, it has been Mark Zerang quietly making sure radio personality live remotes went on smoothly and live sporting events professional reached our radios. Zerang has worked with some of the best & biggest names in Chicago radio over the last couple of dozen years. According to Janet Dahl's new blog, Mark Zerang was her husband, Steve Dahl's sound engineer for every remote for 20 years. Zerang also worked with WLUP's Kevin Matthews, and WGN's Orion Samuelson & Max Armstrong. He is most known for his sports work, having worked with Harry Caray, Hub Arkush, Ed Farmer, Pat Foley, Troy Murray, Tom Thayer, and many others. He was the broadcast audio engineer for live games by the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Blackhawks. If you ever listened to a live remote or a live game broadcast in the last couple of decades or so, more than likely you have heard Mark Zerang's work without even knowing it.
Many of the Chicago radio talents listed above that Zerang has helped sound so good over the years, have been paying him visits in his home in Rogers Park over the last few days. Zerang had been keeping this battle for his life quiet, but circumstances caused him to open up about it and allow his friends and co-workers to know the truth.
The radio executives, staffers and on-air talents that have been visiting with Mark Zerang, have been doing so out of the great respect and admiration they have held for this man and his abilities. Keep Mark Zerang and his loved ones in your thoughts.
In addition to Janet Dahl's mention of him earlier, tributes to Mark Zerang have also been written by Crain's Chicago Business' Ed Sherman and the Chicago Sun-Times' Lewis Lazare.
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers. It is the second most diagnosed cancer in men and women, but it is the number one cause of death from cancer. 28% of all cancer deaths are from lung cancer. 87% of US lung cancer cases are caused by smoking.
Best wishes to Mark Zerang and his struggle.