Longtime radio personality William O’Shaughnessy dies at 84
LITCHFIELD — Longtime community broadcaster and Litchfield resident William O’Shaughnessy, best known as a prominent radio personality based in Northern Westchester, has died.
President of Whitney Radio, O’Shaughnessy ran the upstate New York radio stations WVOX and WVIP for decades.
“One of America’s best known and most beloved community broadcasters, he was revered for his editorials, commentaries, appreciations, elegies, and character portraits,” his obituary reads.
O’Shaughnessy died May 28 at his home in Litchfield. He was 84.
Born April 7, 1938, O’Shaughnessy began working in radio at the age of 21 at a station in Northern Westchester. From there, he moved to WNEW in New York as an executive assistant and also spent some time on the Army base of Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, working as a bartender, Post Commander’s driver and editor of the paper.
During his career, O’Shaughnessy interviewed a wide swath of historic figures, ranging from high-profile heads of state like former presidents Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy and George W. Bush to celebrity figures like Fred Astaire, Howard Stern and Don Rickles.
“His Irish charm and eagerness to know, understand, and engage with everyone was anchored by philanthropy and humanitarianism,” his obituary said.
He was also figured large in regional Republican politics, chairing statewide campaigns for former Gov. Mario Cuomo and aiding campaigns for senatorial candidates and several Westchester and New York state politicians. He was also an outspoken proponent of the First Amendment, according to his obituary.
O’Shaughnessy had a personal, 38-year friendship with Cuomo. An author with several books to his name, he wrote a tribute to and memoir of the former governor in 2016.
At the time of his death, he was working on a book called Townies, described as “a paean to those without wealth, influence or high estate in suburban Westchester County,” according to his obituary.
His obituary refers to him as a “vivid man about town” who always wore blazers on an airplane and sported Belgian loafers and a flashy Yankees World Series ring.
He was also a prolific golfer and member of several clubs, including the Litchfield Country Club and Torrington Country Club. O’Shaughnessy split his time between Litchfield, Westchester, Sun Valley and New York City.
O’Shaughnessy was active in broadcasting circles, serving as past president of the New York State Broadcasters Association and as a senior director of the Broadcasters Foundation of America. For the past 13 years, he also served as the Chairman of the Foundation’s Guardian Fund, which raises funds for broadcasters who have fallen on hard times or have been impacted by unexpected health issues.
Married twice, he is survived by three children and five grandchildren. Most recently, he lived with companion Gregorio Alvarez and three cockapoo dogs in Connecticut.
Funeral services will be held at Lloyd Maxcy in New Rochelle, New York on May 31 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.A funeral mass will be held in at St. Anthony of Padua in Litchfield at 11:30 a.m. on June 1.