How did Gary Shores die? Toledo Radio Personality Cause of Death and Obituary

How did Gary Shores die? Toledo Radio Personality Cause of Death and Obituary

Gary Shores, long-time radio host at WTOD and WKKO-FM “K100” passed away on Sunday evening according to multiple reports on social media. Let’s see more details about Gary Shores and his cause of death in detail.

How did Gary Shores die? What happened to him?

According to a friend and retired Toledo radio broadcaster Craig Snyder, Mr. Shores passed at around five o’clock. He also mentioned that the family had informed the local media.

Shores, best known for his time hosting the popular morning show “Shores and Steele,” retired in 2019 to focus on his health. He had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

Gary struggled with this disease for about 3 years now. It’s a progressive disease, and there’s no cure, except a lung transplant.

I am heartbroken about the loss of a truly good man and radio legend, Gary Shores.

Gary and my dad, Harvey J. Steele, made radio magic on K-100 for more than 20 years. While they were honored to receive a Country Music Association Award in just their second year on air together, their biggest honor was earning the trust of the “greatest listeners in the world” and cramming as much community service into their days as possible. It’s no secret that they used their platform for good.

I cannot say enough about how much Gary’s support has meant to me over the years – especially after my dad died. In a strange way, Gary was like a second father to me, and he always joked that the adoption paperwork was in the mail.

Gar and Harv were more than an on-air duo – they were brothers with a crazy amount of similarities. I hope that the tag team with the self-proclaimed faces for radio is having a reunion of sorts right now.

While I am beyond heartbroken that the Shores & Steele era has officially come to an end, the mark they left on our community will never be forgotten.

How did Gary Shores die? Toledo Radio Personality Cause of Death and Obituary

Cause of death 

The longtime K-100 broadcaster died around 5 p.m. Sunday, his longtime on-air partner’s daughter confirmed by his friend. Gary suffered from lung disease, Pulmonary Fibrosis as well as kidney cancer.

In March, Shores said had been diagnosed with kidney cancer and needed surgery to remove a mass on his right kidney. His battle ended on February 19,2023. This is devastating news for his loved ones. As soon as the news came out, Friends and families are pouring condolences on social media.

Who was Gary Shores?

“Everybody says they were just like two guys sitting at the end of the bar having a conversation,” said Gary’s friend and fellow K100 radio personality Cliff Smithers.
“Shores and Steele” was the number-one show in the area for 20 years, even receiving recognition from the Country Music Association.

In addition to their on-air popularity, both Shores and Steele were known for their generosity in the community, never shying away from promoting a worthy cause.
“Every time Gary and Harvey went out to a medical benefit or someone who needed some funeral expenses or something, they’d drop quite a considerable amount of money into the donation jar,” said friend and fellow K100 radio personality Craig Snyder. “I had a lot of family members come up to me afterward saying ‘they don’t want you to know but, this is what they gave us’ and I’m like ‘yeah I know’.”

“Everybody says they were just like two guys sitting at the end of the bar having a conversation,” said Gary’s friend and fellow K100 radio personality Cliff Smithers.

Shores and Steele

“Shores and Steele” was the number-one show in the area for 20 years, even receiving recognition from the Country Music Association. In addition to their on-air popularity, both Shores and Steele were known for their generosity in the community, never shying away from promoting a worthy cause.

“Every time Gary and Harvey went out to a medical benefit or someone who needed some funeral expenses or something, they’d drop quite a considerable amount of money into the donation jar,” said friend and fellow K100 radio personality Craig Snyder. “I had a lot of family members come up to me afterward saying ‘they don’t want you to know but, this is what they gave us’ and I’m like ‘yeah I know’.”

Obituary

So sad!!! Prayers go out to all family and friends of Gary Shores. RIP

“Words cannot express the sense of loss that I feel right now with the passing of my dear friend and radio mentor, Gary Shores,” wrote his former colleague, Cliff Smithers. “I was able to spend a lot of time with him the last few months and I know that he was struggling and very frustrated with his illness. I told him each time I left his house to hang in there then we would fist bump and tell each other that we loved each other! Wow! I will miss him dearly but live with the great laughs and memories we shared over 32 years of working together!”

Condolence Posted on Social Media

Friends and former colleagues of Shores took to social media Sunday to pay tribute to Shores. His former station posted a heartfelt tribute on social media Sunday night that said Gary lived out his dream.

“It’s hard to make magic. It’s harder to sustain it. Gary took his dream and lived it year after year. He give all the credit to the listeners,” the post said.

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur called Shores a legend and consummate professional

“Northwest Ohio has lost a true legend tonight with the passing of K-100 radio’s Gary Shores,” Kaptur said. “For decades, Gary got us off to work or through the end of the night shift by lifting us. He so loved our community. It was always a joy to see Gary at the station or to catch up with him at community events while he was airing remotely. He was the consummate professional who cherished his role behind the microphone and respected his listeners. Tonight we are grateful to him for giving so much to us. I hope his family and friends can find comfort knowing he will be reunited with his loving wife Joanie.”

Marcy Katpur Posted

Northwest Ohio has lost a true legend tonight with the passing of K-100 radio’s Gary Shores. For decades, Gary got us off to work or through the end of the night shift by lifting us. He so loved our community.

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