WREF staffers

[710man]

  Hello all..I got my radio career started at Ridgefield's WREF in the mid 80's, when they were live and local, before I headed off to college on the West coast, and where I've resided ever since, still doing this radio thing.  Curious if anyone on this board knows what's become of the people I worked with so many years ago, Steve Hand, Judy Cutright, Al Shalon, Chris Clark, Tony Napoleon, Drew Wilder, guy named Bert, Lenny Kerr....those are the names I remember, just curious if any or all are still on the air.

Thanks

[Alan Fletcher]

WREF is now owned by Berkshire Broadcasting in Danbury, and is a sister station to both WLAD and WDAQ. It is currently running Scott Shannon's automated True Oldies Channel.

http://www.850wref.com

-A

[710man]

  Thanks Alan, I saw that a while back, I'm sure its been quite some time since WREF was live and local.....but those were the heydays of radio, glad I got to take part in that era.  At least in the majors, radio is still beating along, but a different story in smaller markets. Not that I need to tell you that.
  It's been twenty years since I last worked with that crew, so I was just wondering what happened to everyone...seems like most fell off the plant, but air names tend to make it hard to trace folks down.

-710man

[Bill DeFelice]

Hello all..I got my radio career started at Ridgefield's WREF in the mid 80's, when they were live and local, before I headed off to college on the West coast, and where I've resided ever since, still doing this radio thing.  Curious if anyone on this board knows what's become of the people I worked with so many years ago, Steve Hand, Judy Cutright, Al Shalon, Chris Clark, Tony Napoleon, Drew Wilder, guy named Bert, Lenny Kerr....those are the names I remember, just curious if any or all are still on the air.

Hey Mr710man,

I worked at WREF back in the days when Dennis Jackson owned it. Drew hired me when engineers Clayton Hintz relocated and after Joe Mahoney did his run there.

I worked with both Lenny Kerr and Tony Napoleon at WMMM. Tony passed away in the early 90's - see my WMMM tribute site for more http://wmmmradio.tripod.com/. I worked with Judy for WGCH's Stamford Classic marathon - very nice lady. I think Chris had a gig at WICC for awhile and still may be at Cumulus under a differrent air name. Lenny and Dennis voicetrack my oldies internet webcast.

Those were the days!

[710man]

  Thanks for the info Bill...I was there from '85 through '87...were you there at that time?  I was a high school kid who interned during the week, and ran the board saturday night and Sunday morning. Coolest job out of anyone at my school.  Great memories, thanks for sharing...too bad about Tony, as I recall, a true pro and kind man.

-710man

[drc-fm fan]

Drew Wilder has been in sales @ WCCC for probably 9 or 10 years now.

[Bill DeFelice]

Thanks for the info Bill...I was there from '85 through '87...were you there at that time?  I was a high school kid who interned during the week, and ran the board saturday night and Sunday morning. Coolest job out of anyone at my school.  Great memories, thanks for sharing...too bad about Tony, as I recall, a true pro and kind man.

Yes, I was there around that time. I was actually "part-part time" working for Drew doing engineering (mostly after sign-off) while I was working at WMMM and doing work for WEBE as well. It was funny, as I first met Dennis (the owner) back in the 70's when I was in high school at community radio station WMNR - I don't think Dennis even knew I was working for him at that time. It was a great place with some great folks. I probably bumped into you at one time or another while there throwing the bull with the staff.

Tony was a true professional and a great friend. I rarely saw him get angry no matter what the challenge.

[ddwilder]

Interesting messages as WREF "The Reference" and "Refreshing" was a longggg time ago...I can't figure out who "710man" is???  But appreciate whomever it is asking where all these former WREF'ers inc myself have gone.   Yes I have been Sr AE at WCCC, Hartford for 9 years having left WREF in '87 in what appears to have been its heyday to be GM/part owner of WKZE AM/FM, Sharon and then to WHCN, Hartford
I'd be curious to know who 710man is and where everyone else is mentioned in the e-mails from the WREF past.

Drew Wilder

[Chintz]

I did not know many of the WREF staff as my work there was done after sign off.  I was contracted to do studio maintenance from about 1985 to 1987.  I relocated to Maine in 87 and currently work for a broadcast equipment manufacturer.

I did work with Tony Napoleon, Lenny Kerr, Bill DeFelice, and many others in my 12 years at WMMM.

Clayton Hintz

[Bill DeFelice]

It's great to see so many former WREFers alive and well. It's been eons since I've heard hide or hair from Drew and it's been awhile since hearing from Clayton. Perhaps once I finally get off my behind and update the WMMM tribute site I'll have to make a WREF history site as well.