“Poolside” Tony Ruzicka
Feb. 20, 1958 - Dec. 16, 2006.

A friend of mine let me know over the Holidays that "Poolside" Tony Ruzicka had passed away. I was very sad to hear this news as the two of us worked together at The Fan back in the mid-90s. (When the studios were still up on Kelly Ave. -- next to KGON, and later KNRK)

Tony wasn’t a classic “radio guy.” He was actually a journalist, inserted into the roll of midday host soon after doing a feature story on the station for the now-defunct newspaper, The Downtowner.

Tony found some early success at the station and was soon moved to the coveted morning drive slot where he hosted a solo show, and then co-hosted with Steve Arena. Unfortunately the show failed to find an audience and was cancelled about a year later. (Generally speaking, EVERY show on KFXX seemed to be ratings-challenged so the lineup was an ever-revolving door of experiments.)

As someone who worked closely with Tony, I can say absolutely what a nice and funny guy he was. He was constantly laughing, and cracking up everyone else in the room. I look back on that year with so many fond memories, and of course, wish I could do it all over again.

I never saw Tony again after I left the station in 1995 and I regret that. I always hoped that we would cross paths but it just never happened. Be sure to say hi to your friends now. You never know when one of them might go...

Happy Holidays to all.

Cheers,

Scott “Scottie O.” Olson (email)

P.S. I’d love to hear what some of the other “usual suspects” from that time are up to. I made a quick list of names last night but I’m sure I’m leaving someone out.

Steve Arena
Kevin Toon
Kevin “Scoop” McKillip
The Special Master (Jordan Lewis)
Cam Gillihan
Paul Gowan (with an e)…
Mike Parker
Michael Thompson
Kermit Washington
Greg Robinson
Professor Tom Hewitt


And of course…
Mike Turner
Dick Sheetz (RIP)
Iris Harrison
Marty Party
Terry Adams
Bob Anchetta
KC Caldwell
Jeff Mitchell
Chuck Knoph
Bob Brooks
Amy Welp

This makes me very sad. Tony was one of those guys who was just a natural at radio. I saw him at The Zombies show at Berbati's Pan on September 8th and told him how I missed him on the air. He said he was still working at Fred Meyer, and we hugged several times that night while walking through the venue. I'm so glad I hugged him that much because I'll never have that chance to do so again.

Many sorrows to his family. He will be missed greatly. It was a blessing to know him, and be around his positive attitude. One time he had me come in and sing "Oh Canada" on his show because he was talking about hockey. Tony was all about being in the moment, whether it was on the air, or face to face. One of the greatest guys you'd ever want going to promotions and events.

Bless you Tony.

Iris

Oh, and since you asked, here's what I know about the following.


Kevin Toon-Married our promotion director years ago, Christie Croghan and they have two children.
Kevin “Scoop” McKillip-Last I know he was back in the area after living elsewhere for a while. Haven't seen him in a couple of years.
The Special Master (Jordan Lewis) -TV last I heard. Working with camera crew.
Cam Gillihan -Went to eastern Oregon. Not sure if he's still an engineer.
Mike Parker -Voice of the Beavers
Greg Robinson -Still in town. Marketing for some company putting up displays. That was a few months ago.
Professor Tom Hewitt -Still in the building from time to time and in the area teaching.


And of course…
Mike Turner -News mornings between Mark and Brian on KGON 5-10am
Dick Sheetz (RIP) -His widow Julie, and daughter Natasha, now in college, still live in Florida. Dick's Radio Diving Show still is on the air there.
Iris Harrison -Still at KGON, Mid Days, off on medical leave but coming back on January 2nd with bells on!!!!! I can't wait.
Marty Party -On vacation in Arizona until January 8th. He needed golf therapy. Returns to 7-Midnight on the 8th.
Terry Adams-Program Director at a station in the south.
Bob Anchetta -Internet Jock God, Blues show at KINK, fill in guy, brother, friend, dad, grandfather and still the coolest dude in Portland.
KC Caldwell -Goddess of the airwaves in Bend. Two kids, married, happy.
Jeff Mitchell -Metro traffic, newswriter, on air Saturday afternoons at KGON, go to guy for anything. Thanks Jeff.
Chuck Knoph - Boy I miss him. I ran into his daughter, Courtney, at the Zombies show too. Working in the music biz in Los Angeles. Don't know what Chuck is doing now.
Bob Brooks -The voice of production! Entercom Production Wizard, and you'll hear him on so many spots on TV, plus that Bowflex ad!!
Amy Welp- That smiling sweet face at the front desk at Entercom. She still greets us all in the morning and takes care of it all during the day. Oh the stories she has about the people who come to the front desk on a daily basis...and she still has such a great attitude.

Tony was one of the greatest people I ever knew, once we flew to LA together to see The Late Show with David Letterman, we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and flew back after the show to be here to actually see the show at 11:30pm. Tony & I had a blast and I will never forget him for his friendship. B.A.

Hi, B.A.!
Sorry to hear about Tony.
Steve Arena owns Westlake Cleaners in Lake Oswego.
J.R.

I remember listening to Tony and the others while I was an early teenager...what a great team (in my opinion) KFXX had back then. My best friend and I were huge football fans and would call in and talk Patriots and Dolphins with Tony.

When I started at KPAM I was so honored to meet, work with and get to know Greg Robinson. He was such an awesome guy with a great sports and news mind. I'd love to get in touch with him...does someone have his e-mail addy?

dexter1053@gmail.com

Jordan Lewis at All Classical 89.9FM asked me to post this message for him because his PDXRADIO user name has not been activated yet.

"Tony "Poolside" Ruzicka was probably the funniest guy I have ever met
in
my life. I was just starting out my new job at the Sports Talk station
when I got the chance to work with Poolside. During the nearly six year
tenure, I engineered for all of the hosts that came and went through
the
many changes (even moving to the new building) he was by far the
funniest guy I worked with. I could be having a bad day and just his
smile coming into the room would brighten my day. I really miss those
days, and I had some silly notion of heading over to his house and
knocking on his door one day to see if he still lived there. Whenever I
was driving near his house, I would think to myself "I wonder if ol'
Poolside still lives over here" as I'd drive on by. I wish I had taken
the time to stop by and check, now I will never have the chance to try
it and I am the sadder for it.

ScottieO why didn't you call me Homey? I would have loved to attend his
funeral to tell everybody how much he meant to me and how he enriched
MY
life by being in it. (edit- I see that by the date you posted this, the
funeral had already passed)

In the years that have gone by, I have looked back and always thought I
would run into Poolside again but it is not to be. I have been playing
Disc Golf regularly now for nearly 10 years and there is a golfer from
Bend OR named Michael Ruzicka. How many Ruzickas can there be in
Oregon?
I have been trying to track him down to see if he is related to Tony,
but it just hasn't happened yet. I now have a mission for next year to
track down this Michael Ruzicka!

Enough of the maudlin crap! Poolside wouldn't stand for this! He'd make
a funny remark and we'd be off again another adventure. That's what it
was like to know and work with Tony, everyday was an adventure and he
made it fun even when it wasn't.

God Bless you Tony, work your magic upstairs and try to get me a seat
at
the table when it is my time, and we will laugh....

ScottieO, Iris and BA: I love you guys and I'm sorry I haven't been
around to see you more in the last few years, I'll try to not make the
same mistake I made with Poolside.

Jordan Lewis
Operations Administrator
503-802-9409
Listen online at: www.allclasical.org"

Jordan, come see me! Miss you man! Boy do we all need to have a reunion or what?

A reunion would be very cool. Things are a little hectic over here with the Performance Today change. Once we get the logistics of the show ironed out I'll drop by the old studios for a visit.

Give my love to Amykins too!

I remember the first time "Poolside" was on the drivetime shift. He threw out a few sports topics of the day to discuss......no phone calls.......so he threw out a couple more topics........still no calls. Finally he starts rattling off every conceivable topic and says "c'mon guys, just pick up the phone". And people did. It was hilarious.

Maybe everyone knows, but what took him?