WPKN producer Hans Koning dies

Hans was the producer of WPKN's "Literary Discord" program. The NY Times has his obituary. Hans Koning, 85, Prolific Left-Leaning Writer, Is Dead

Hans Koning, whose outpouring of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books ranged from exotic travel to erotic trauma to a withering indictment of Christopher Columbus, died on Friday at his home in Easton, Conn. He was 85....

Mr. Koning wrote novels, plays, screenplays, travel books, young adult books and many magazine articles, particularly for The New Yorker. He also did translations. His stated goal was to reflect on injustice and the essential state of being human “in a hidden way.” But his strongly leftist politics were seldom camouflaged.

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Jeff Tellis Passes Away

Jeff Tellis, who was the General Manager of WPKN from 1967 to 1978, passed away this morning, March 14th, of cardiac arrest at St. Luke's Hospital in New York. As General Manager during the period when WPKN was licensed to the University of Bridgeport, Jeff Tellis was responsible for evolving WPKN from its beginnings as a college station. Jeff nurtured the involvement of community volunteers and steered the station toward community service beyond the campus. For the past 30 years, Jeff was Vice President for Information Services and Executive Director of the Intercollegiate Broadcast System. UPDATE: A graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 17, 2006, at Congregation B’nai Sholom Cemetery, Jordan Lane Extension, Wethersfield CT. Additional information is available from Weinstein Mortuary. WHUS Alumni have set up a Jeff Tellis memorial page at their web site, which includes a wonderful tribute from WPKN alum Stu Hackel. Technorati tags: WPKN, Bridgeport, Jeff Tellis, WHUS

Sandy Sandbank

With sorrow we note the passing of our friend Sandy Sandbank on Tuesday, March 14th. Sandy was a volunteer at WPKN for many years, serving as our Long Island Coordinator and arranging many events for our Long Island listeners. He will be remembered for his confident but serene manner, his dedication to the station, and his love of all things maritime. No information regarding a memorial service is available at this time. Technorati tags: WPKN, WPKM, Bridgeport, New London, radio, Montauk