[Scan-DC] Walt Starling Dies

[Ed Tobias]

Doug and the scan-dc list:

I wrote Walt's obit this morning for AP.  It's what was picked up, almost 
word-for-word, on the WTOP, WMAL and WRC-TV web sites.

Walt and I worked together at WASH, (I was there from 1973 - 1978), and I 
filled-in for him, occasionally, in the plane during that time.  The first 
time was when Walt's son was born.  We remained friends over the years and I 
was fortunate to have seen him, in November, at a broadcaster's dinner.

Walt was one of the world's nicest guys and would do anything for you.  I'm 
copying in the scan-dc list on this because Walt's family now needs the help 
of all of those who he helped out of traffic jams for over two decades. 
Walt's medical bills were tremendous...going into six-figures.  Because his 
cancer was so advanced, (stage 4 colon cancer at diagnosis), he and his 
doctors had to use experimental drugs to try to fight it.  The drugs weren't 
covered by insurance.

There's going to be a Starling tribute and fund-raising auction this 
Saturday at the Univ. of MD to try to help with those bills.   Many 
Washington broadcasters will be there and there will be some unique, 
broadcast-related, items.  Details can be found at 
www.friendsofwaltstarling.com.  The event is open to the public and we're 
hoping that Walt's many listeners will either attend, or contribute to the 
fund via the web site.

Take a look, please, and help if you can.

Thanks,


Ed



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug K." <oldsdoug at hotmail.com>
To: <b_thom at juno.com>
Cc: <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 9:46 PM
Subject: RE: [Scan-DC] Walt Starling Dies


> Interesting... neigbor told me about it this morning, and I went through 
> the same thing, as I worked with the father - my first job was at Capitol 
> Radio in '68 or '69.  I never met the son, wondered how old he was... 2 
> yrs younger than I am - ugh.  Article is datelined Laytonsville, that's in 
> my back yard, so to speak.  (Frank Herzog lives nearby also.)
>
> Apparently the girl on whatever channel she's on is a niece of Walt the 
> Younger, I'm told.
>
> Doug in Gaithersburg
>
>>From: b_thom at juno.com
>>To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net, k3lu at radiointel.com
>>Subject: [Scan-DC] Walt Starling Dies
>>Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 20:06:41 -0500
>>
>>When I saw this news story on the WRC website, I thought: "Yeah, about a
>>month ago."
>>
>>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23819-2004Nov30.html
>>
>> >>
>>Businessman Walter Starling
>>Wednesday, December 1, 2004; Page B08
>>
>>Walter M. Starling, 79, a retired electronics wholesale business owner
>>and longtime airplane pilot, died Nov. 7 at his home in Silver Spring. He
>>had Lewy body disease, a neurological condition.
>>
>>Mr. Starling managed and owned Capitol Radio Wholesalers, an electronics
>>parts business, in Northwest Washington for four decades before selling
>>it in 1996. He had joined the company in 1954 as a parts counter
>>salesman, became vice president in about 1965, became president in 1975
>>and bought the company in 1985.
>>....
>><<
>>
>>No, this time it's the younger Walt Starling. He outlived his father by
>>only five weeks.
>>
>>http://www.nbc4.com/news/4045928/detail.html
>>
>> >>
>>Walt Starling Dies
>>Starling Ends Career At News4
>>
>>LAYTONSVILLE, Md. -- Walt Starling, the first traffic reporter in the
>>Washington area to become a major radio personality, has died.
>>
>>Starling, 52, passed away Monday morning at his home in Montgomery
>>County, Md. He'd been suffering from colon cancer since last spring.
>>
>>Starling parlayed a pilot's license, and a term paper on airborne traffic
>>reporting, into a career that covered more than 20 years and more than 2
>>million air miles. Most of that time was spent circling the Washington
>>Beltway in a two-seat Cessna.
>>
>> >From 1974 until the mid-1990's Starling reported traffic for radio
>>stations WAVA, WASH, WPGC, WLIT and WARW.
>>....
>><<
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>
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