Fixaris praised by fans, friends

By TOM CHARD, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	Updates Sportscaster dies in fire Frank Fixaris, 71, who had been badly burned in a house fire in 1960, is found on his couch in Falmouth. A man who loved local sports After nearly five decades in broadcasting, Frank Fixaris was nothing short of an icon in southern Maine. To top of story
	File photo Frank Fixaris, a longtime sportscaster on WGME-TV and co-host of a morning sports talk show on WJAB radio, died Friday morning in a fire at his home.

Longtime television and radio personality Frank Fixaris was remembered Monday on the local sports-talk show he helped popularize.

Portland radio station WJAB devoted its four-hour morning show in tribute to Fixaris, who died Friday morning at age 71 in an accidental fire at his Falmouth home.

For the past five years, Fixaris was co-host on the station's morning show with Dave Schumacher. It was Fixaris' broad knowledge of local and national sports and his ease behind the microphone that helped popularize the radio program.

On Monday, Schumacher and co-host Joe Palmieri returned to the air for the first time since Fixaris' death. They paid tribute to a man who spent nearly 50 years as part of the Maine sports scene.

Schumacher admitted it was a tough show to do.

"The show will continue, but it won't be the same," he said.

Many of Monday's callers said they grew up watching Fixaris on TV and that he provided a link to the past when he joined WJAB.

Fixaris was retired when WJAB asked him to join Schumacher on the morning show five years ago. It wasn't too long before ratings started to climb.

Schumacher called Fixaris "a major-market talent in a small market." Fixaris, a native of Torrington, Conn., had offers to broadcast in major markets but always preferred staying in his adopted state.

"He fell in love with the area and didn't want to leave," said Schumacher.

Fixaris' ability to talk about sports in a way that connected with listeners was a constant theme of the morning show, as many callers echoed Schumacher's sentiment. One caller even said Fixaris' death "was like losing someone in the family."

Maine sports fans knew Fixaris well. He was a broadcasting icon long before he joined WJAB.

Fixaris began in radio in Portland 50 years ago. After 10 years of radio, he landed his dream job in 1965 as a sports anchor at WGAN-Channel 13, now WGME. He later became sports director and worked there until 1995.

In 2000, Fixaris joined WJAB when station owner and longtime friend JJ Jeffrey offered him a job.

"This program helped people get to know Frank better," Schumacher said.

Throughout Monday's show, clips of Fixaris' comments were played. Paul Simon's song, "Kodachrome," one of Fixaris' favorites, was played during lead-ins. Schumacher and Palmieri chuckled when they recalled Fixaris singing along during one show.

One caller said Fixaris' presence made the show legitimate. In-studio guests Monday included local sports anchors Bruce Glasier of WCSH and Dave Eid of WGME.

Glasier cited Fixaris' ability as a talented play-by-play announcer. Early in his career, Fixaris regularly broadcast high school football and basketball games. He also worked as a color commentator for the Maine Mariners and Portland Pirates.

"They used to have the Western Maine Class B and C tournament at Edward Little High," said Glasier. "Frank used to do something like eight games in a row.

"Every game sounded as smooth as the first. When you heard Frank's voice, you felt like you were in a comfort zone."

Eid said Fixaris never forgot the local teams in his sports reports. That was especially evident on his morning updates on WJAB.

Monday's tribute included calls from Boston TV and radio personalities Dale Arnold and Tom Caron, both Maine natives, who worked with Fixaris on broadcasts of Maine Mariners hockey games.

"Watching something like the state American Legion finals was more important to Fix than watching the NBA finals," Caron said. "He was exactly the type of person you would want as your local sports broadcaster."

Palmieri, Eid and WGME news anchor Kim Block, who all worked with Fixaris at the TV station, cited his ability to ad-lib a sportscast flawlessly.

"He had so many facts and figures in his head that he worked without a script," said Block, who called in to the Monday show. "Frank was a solid guy who could cut to the chase. He leaves a huge legacy."

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com