Bernard McGuirk obit

Renowned Radio Host Bernard McGuirk Dies Of Prostate Cancer – His Illness Took Him Away!

 

He was not on the list.

The co-host of Bernie & Sid in the Morning, Bernard McGuirk passed away Wednesday night following a bout with prostate cancer, just a few weeks shy of his 65th birthday.

McGuirk had been co-host of WABC’s Bernie & Sid in the Morning with Sid Rosenberg since April of 2018.

A special tribute for McGuirk, including memories and thoughts from the WABC staff, will air on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.

Red Apple CEO John Catsimatidis said, “We are all devastated by the loss of Bernie. He was a true New Yorker whose talent and intelligence propelled him to the top of New York morning radio. He had incredible insights on local, national, and world news that his listeners respected. He will be missed by everyone at WABC and his fans around the world.”

In an email to the 77 WABC team late last night, Chad Lopez, President of Red Apple Media and 77 WABC, wrote, “Bernie was not just half of Bernie and Sid in the Morning; Bernie was part of the fabric of WABC. Listeners from all around the world started their days with Bernie’s charismatic wit and insight, from tragic events to American’s day to day life. His absence will leave a hole not just at WABC but across the airwaves and in America’s hearts. Bernie was our brother, our friend, our mentor, our colleague. We will all miss Bernie more than words can express.”

“Bernie was my partner and my friend,” said Rosenberg. “He was always the smartest guy in the room, and I was fortunate to be the guy next to him. I know our listeners join me in grieving the loss to radio and to New York.”

McGuirk had been with WABC since 2007 as Executive Producer of the Imus in the Morning Show. McGuirk was with the Imus In the Morning show since its latter days at WNBC Radio. He made the move with Imus to WFAN Radio in New York City in 1988 and remained there until 2007. McGuirk was also part of the Imus team when the show became nationally syndicated in 1993.

The son of Irish immigrants and an altar boy in his youth, McGuirk did impersonations of John Cardinal O'Connor and Edward Cardinal Egan (both Archbishops of New York) in which he "fashions an oversize FedEx envelope into a cone on his head ... Using a high-pitched Irish brogue.

McGuirk played a role in an on-air incident on April 4, 2007 that caused a nationwide controversy and ultimately led to both him and Don Imus being fired. During a discussion of the Rutgers University women's basketball team, Imus characterized the players as "rough girls with tattoos." McGuirk responded in his familiar "urban-speak" vernacular by referring to them as "hardcore hos".

Born in the Bronx, New York City in 1957, McGuirk was a graduate of the College of Mount St. Vincent. He is survived by his wife Carol, and their two children, Brendan and Melanie.