Ron Blassnig R.I.P.

We last talked to our old friend Ron Blassnig last September. We just found out that he died the next month. Ron was head engineer for a number of LA radio stations, and an expert on tape recorders, esp. the big pro models. He got Shelly into the old BBS systems and thus I met her at one of their gatherings, back in the 80s, at North Hollywood Park.

Ron was a wonderful upbeat fellow. He was always optimistic and in a good mood, even in his last days (we had no idea). Since we moved to Seattle we saw him only rarely but usually talked on the phone at least once a year. He was something of a character. He didn't like to cook; he kept old LPs in his oven. He loved bargains; a sale on batteries was big for him. Sometimes he took a late night on-the-air shift on the radio and styled himself "Dr. B." He would do things like the reverse-lunch-giveaway. The winner would take Ron out to lunch at their own expense. Some station finally made him drop the moniker because he did not actually have a doctorate and didn't fancy getting a DD from the Universal Life Church.

He will be missed.