DETROIT, MI -- Detroit radio personality Jamie Samuelsen died Saturday night after a two-year battle with colon cancer. He was 48.
He is survived by his wife, Christy McDonald, and three children, Caroline, 16; Josh, 14; and Catherine, 11.
Earlier in the week, the 97.1 The Ticket host revealed to listeners he was diagnosed with colon cancer nearly two years ago.
According to The Ticket, Samuelsen said he waited to make his fight with cancer public because he wanted his relationship with listeners to be business as usual.
“Each morning since my diagnosis, I got up, turned on the radio mic and got to talk sports,” Samuelsen said. “I needed the escape from cancer, just like so many of our listeners who face hardships, grief and illness, too, they turned to us in the morning for some levity in this crazy world. So I wanted to continue to have fun and not let cancer get in the way of doing what I loved. Connecting with listeners, laughing, teasing Stoney, all of it, it helped me be normal, while continuing to fight this disease.”
Samuelsen, who is also a frequent guest on the FOX 2 SportsWorks roundtable, has been on the airwaves of Detroit sports talk radio for 25 years. He’s been with 97.1 the ticket since 2012.
One of Samuelsen’s co-hosts on radio and television, Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski, announced the death on Twitter on Saturday night on behalf of the family. Wojnowski called Samuelsen “the best damn friend you could ever have.”
Fans and friends of Samuelsen shared memories and photos, including WXYZ Detroit Reporter Ross Jones who described Samuelsen as “wickedly funny” and “supremely smart.”
“We did not deserve a talent like Jamie Samuelsen, who was blessed in everything but years,” Jones tweeted.
The official Detroit Tigers Twitter account joined in the community support for Samuelsen’s family on social media.
“Jamie was dedicated to his craft and we will miss his enthusiasm for our city & sports franchises. Our thoughts & hearts are with Jamie’s family & friends at The Ticket,” the team tweeted Saturday night.
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