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Broadcast pioneer Pat Delsi, 86

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Italian-American Herald

Last month, Pasquale “Pat Delsi” Del Signore, 86, passed away peacefully at home. Born in Sulmona, Italy, Pat grew up in Camden before marrying his wife, Margie (nee Tryka) and moving to Haddon Heights, N.J. Pat began his radio career on Sept. 21, 1953, and worked in broadcasting with WCAM. He bought the station, then named WSSJ, in 1980 and owned it until 2000. While Pat never actually hosted Italian radio programs, as owner of WSSJ, the station broadcast the weekly Italian program “Spectrum Italiano,” hosted by Pat’s good friend Frank Medori.

Former president of the Philadelphia Press Association and chairman of the New Jersey Broadcast Association and the Broadcast Pioneers, Pat was best-known as the voice of WCAM/WSSJ, the Drexel Dragons men’s and women’s basketball teams, Big Five basketball and Temple football.

If “calling” over 5,000 college and professional sports games, introducing over 1 million records on the radio and conducting over 5,000 interviews wasn’t enough, Pat was also heavily involved as a board member or state/national director with organizations like the March of Dimes, the United Way, New Jersey and U.S. Jaycees, Diocese of Camden, YMCA, YWCA and Sons of Italy. In his 60 years in broadcasting, Pet mentored and befriended numerous people both professionally and personally.

Pat also has the unique distinction of broadcasting games from both Japan (Temple football) and China (Drexel basketball).

He was inducted into the New Jersey Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Camden County Sports Hall of Fame, Camden Catholic Hall of Fame and Drexel University Hall of Fame, to name a few, yet Pat would say that his greatest achievement was his family.

Pat is the beloved husband of 64 years to Margie. He is the devoted father of Diane (Greg) Goodwin, Eileen, David (Karen), Dean (Maggie), Mark (Carole), Frank (Kim), Paul (Joanne), Glenn (Beth) and the late, Linda and Adam. He is the loving grandfather of 19 grandchildren.

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