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BORN
1927
DIED
2016
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Dan Sorkin Obituary
April 6, 1927 - June 6, 2016
Resident of Walnut Creek
Dan Sorkin died at home on June 6, 2016 four weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He enjoyed an irreverent broadcasting career in Chicago and San Francisco. He loved aviation and was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flying during his life. He taught instrument flying, demonstrating safety and enthusiasm.
During retirement, he founded and led an amputee support group for over twenty years. He was devoted to leading by example, showing all that life can still be an adventure, no matter how many limbs are lost.
Dan is survived by his wife, Jody; sister, Beverly Stookal; a niece and nephew and their families all located in Chicago. Also surviving are stepdaughters Jennifer King and Kirsten Vorhies and their families located in Sacramento.
In lieu of a memorial service, Dan requested that his family and friends honor him by enjoying every day and loving life.
He loved life and it loved him back.
View the online memorial for Dan Sorkin
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Dan Sorkin
Sponsored by East Bay Times.
Joan Mudd
October 13, 2020
What a pleasure to hear his edgy humor. Fun was a gift to be honored.Imagine being an old
Woman and treasuring the easy
Laughter he was able to give away.
Genuine sympathy to those who love
And miss him.
ARNIE PASSMAN
December 15, 2019
when dan came to sf in 1965, he inspired me to write the book, the deejays (macmillan, 1971), HE AS MUCH AS HIS CONFRERES LANNY BRUCE, MORTH SAHL AND PAUL KRASSNER MEANT MUCH TO ME.
ARNIE PASSMAN, BERKELEY CA
Paul Olsen
November 28, 2019
Dan and I became great friends when he was at KSFO in San Francisco from 1965-early '66. We formed "The Hated Red Barons" motorcycle club with the motto: "We can run from a fight faster than any thirteen other guys." Our black leather jackets had an embroidered Snoopy in goggles doing his hated Red Baron pose with long trialing scarf, that we all had as well (Isadora Duncan notwithstanding). That was Dan all over. When he graduated from his first Honda 450 to a full dress Harley, he equipped it with a 200 watt stereo and would ride through the financial district in San Francisco blasting music echoing off the buildings and advertising KSFO. Dan opened many doors for me, and I have written lovingly about him in my upcoming book (hopefully published next year, in 2020), "The Book of Haight" about 60's San Francisco (I have a previous book titled "The Book of Love" hence the title suggested by Gary Brooker of 'Whiter Shade of Pale' fame). I owe Dan an awful lot...because of him, I could make a living selling my paintings, many of which ended up in movies. All thanks to Dan.
November 15, 2019
I'm glad to read I'm not alone in my admiration for Mr Sorkin. He was simply the most entertaining radio man I've ever heard. Brad Willett, Eugene, Oregon
Betty Mayian
November 26, 2018
My memories of Dan Sorkin were from Chicago Radio when he broadcast such great comedians as Mort Saul and Bob Newhart. It was a joy to listen to him and his beautiful sense of humor.
Laila Glahn
December 11, 2017
I remember Dan Sorkin singing the WORDS to John Philip Sousa The Stars and Stripes Forever....amazing! Id love to hear it again.
Rick King
August 4, 2017
In cleaning up today I found my Rose Bimler button, and decided to check in with Dan by email again. I am profoundly sad. I was an adolescent in Chicago when he was on WCFL, and he had a great impact on my sense of humor, my music preferences, and life in general. It was all good, clean fun in the mornings. In following his life after Chicago, I realized that he was so much more than the very model of a DJ. I am only one of so many who miss him.
Charlie Scholz
April 23, 2017
When I was growing up in Chicago in the 1950s Dan was the hippest DJ in town. Not only was he cool, he knew everybody, who was anybody in the entertainment world, especially the hip comics.
I was a huge fan.
When he moved to WAIT, I actually visited him at the station out in the suburbs. We had a interesting conversation and I continued to listen until he headed out to SF.
Mike Robinson
January 22, 2017
Loved him on KFSO in the 1960s and '70s. He was a treat to listen to. Thank you Dan Sorkin!!
arnie passman
September 5, 2016
a long and great life; there was no one like him, and he made me what i am today.
how could i not know of his passing until 3 months after? he'll be glad to know when i pass it'll be to where sun ra is playing somewhere over the rainbow.
arnie passman
berkeley, ca
Jim Ward
August 9, 2016
Jody,
So sorry for OUR loss. I met Dan back in the 60's and reconnected with him via email about 10 years ago. He brought a lot of joy and happiness to more people than he could have ever imagined.
My favorite story of his was when he was on a ski lift and took off his artificial leg and shook it at the skiers below.
He is missed.
God Bless,
Jim
Alan Holm
July 26, 2016
I knew Dan Sorkin from listening to him on KSFO. I was young & working to start my small biz while listening to him. He helped me form who I am. I loved his humor. He made cold phone calls & teased people. I forgot about Chief Santa until someone else mentioned it. I enjoyed the music that he played & his conversations with the other KSFO DJ's like Gene Nelson. He will live long in my memory.
Rick Rumick
July 19, 2016
I grew up listening to Dan on WCFL in Chicago. He helped me start off each day laughing and in good humor.
About 20 years ago I found him on the Internet and his emails kept me informed and also again enjoying his wonderful humor.
My condolences to the family. Rest in Peace my friend.
RIck Rumick
Jacque Skarr
July 17, 2016
Dan was my inspiration to go into radio and I got to thank him for it. Listening to him on WCFL in Chicago was such a treat. He made those frigid Chicago mornings so much better and I carried those smiles with me all throughout the day. Because of him, I played comedy records on my show on KYUU, bringing smiles to my audience through him. Thanks, Stumpy. Rest in Peace.
John foose
July 11, 2016
HI Jody, Betty and I met Dan many years ago after he had "retired" from KSFO (where we had listened to him religiously). Interestingly, we met through flying. He was just a wonderful person and we "talked" daily, I would say, through email. A lot of flying talk, and of course a lot of political talk. We were both in the same Choir! We will miss him, a bright, funnny, witty, all around great guy. I am glad we got to know him; I wish we had met you as well... He loved you a lot. Regards, John and Betty Foose
June 23, 2016
Jody: I met Dan while doing volunteer work with Syananon in the 1970's. I actually got to fly in the Beaver with him a few times. I will always remember his quick wit . An immensely talented guy who I am sure you will miss. My best to you and your family.
Thomas A. Olson
Marie Griffin
June 23, 2016
I only "knew" him as a teenager, listening to his wonderful voice and stories on KSFO. He was a kick! I was even more impressed with his ability to spread smiles to others following his accident.
He is a legend and an example to so many.
Nick and Gloria Demes
June 22, 2016
Sincere condolences from two old Chicago radio fans. We enjoyed and passed many pleasant hours with him over his years here. May he rest in peace.
A Photo I'll Treasure Forever!
Spencer J. "Pick" Lyman
June 22, 2016
I Met Dan On Line Through a Vet Friend Who Too was an Amputee Due to Diabetes...
My First Correspondence with Dan was to Inform Him Ken Plas Had Passed On to a Better Place.
Ken was One for Not Separating His E-mail Addresses When He Sent Anything Out and that Proved to Be Most Fortunate for Me. Ken was a Nam Navy Vet and a Member of My Rolling Thunder Inc. Chapter 2 VA.
I Started Conversing with Dan on a Regular Basis, Letting Him Know I Wasn't Allowed to Serve My Country Because of a Childhood Accident that Left My Legs Impaired... I Volunteered for Nam, but was Rejected...
Dan and I Had a Great Report Over the Short Years We Had to Get to Know Each Other.
Anna and I Made a Trip from VA to San Francisco, Toured the Area and the Next Day We Had Lunch with Dan on Thursday the 17th of October 2013 11:30 AM SCOTT'S Restaurant at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA.
I Gave Him a Trinket of a Clock, Not Valuable, but it Looked Like an Old Plane from the 40s or 50s, Fitting for a Pilot and WWII USAAF Vet.
We Had a Great Lunch and Filled in Any Missing Gaps that Were Not Covered in Any of Our Correspondence
Almost Immediately After Eating I Became Ill and Our Visit was Cut Short. I was Having a Really Bad Time with My Health at the Time, Needless to Say, it Paled to Dan's Which We Had No Idea...
We Tried to Hook Up Again the Next Year Around Thanksgiving and We Must Have Brought with Us, a Really Freaky Rain Storm to the Bay Area as it Poured Cats and Dogs... The Weather Prevented Dan and This Time, His Wife Jodi from Us Getting Together... The Storm Caused Flooding and Mud Slides, I Would Not Like to Think the Rain Did Follow Us from VA!
Dan was a Remarkable Man in My Eyes, a True Patriot and Hero! He Accomplished a Lot in His Life and Many a Person Has Him to Thank for that...
He Filled My Life with an Array of World Events and Treasures He Loved Sending Me Video Clips from the 40s and 50s Hollywood and Music, Tons of it and So I Tried to Reciprocate by Loading Down a 64 Gigabyte Memory Stick of Music Hopefully He Loved, Good Music from the 1920 Through the 1950s Possibly He Had Not Heard Over the Years
Anna and I Were Planning to Again This Christmas to Meet Up Again, Soon as We Made Our Plans, I was Going to Get a Hold to Him
My Son Lives in Chino and My Two Grandsons in Taft
My Health Has Been Sea Sawing for Over Three Years Now and Having a Rough Road to Recovery After Last Years Back Surgery
My Wife Anna Had Reformatted My Computer a Couple Months Ago and Had Placed My High Volume Daily Mail in Separate Files, Not the In Box I Had a Tendency to Forget This and Would Get Behind on Mail from Those Particular Files, Dan Was My Largest Daily Contributor
I Am Extremely Ashamed to Find Out Only After His Passing He Had Sent Me Notice of His Ill Fated Health and He Must Have Thought I Had Forgotten About Him, or Neglecting His Friendship Considering I Kept Sending Regular E-mail Out Including Him I Did Neither, My Memory Just Easily Slips These Days and it Horribly Allowed His Passing to Go Unnoticed Till This Past Monday
It Will Take a Long of Time to Get Over, if at All Possible, that I Did Not Send Him a Personal Note Prior to His Passing, I Had So Much to Thank Him for
I Knew He Wasn't Too Upset with Me as He Told Me, See You On the Other Side
His Passing Corresponded with a Most Perfect Day for a Great WWII War Hero Also, it was Just Two Days After My Birthday
DAN, Will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN He was One of the Last Faithful and True American Patriots!
Steve Krome
June 20, 2016
Have a good flight home 'Chief Santa'... You done good.
June 19, 2016
I grew up in San Francisco and enjoyed listening to Dan on the radio. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.
Lillian Politis
June 19, 2016
I was sad to hear of the passing of Dan. I grew up in San Francisco and so enjoyed listening to Dan on the radio. I have wonderful memories of his radio shows. I did not know him personally although I did go to the radio station several times to watch him do his show.
Just wanted his family to know how much the people of The City loved him.
Bob Dauber
June 19, 2016
Very fond memories of Dan when he was on the radio in Chicago. Also, I had the privilege of performing for him when I was in college in the 60's. He was truly one of a kind.
Rich Batchelder
June 18, 2016
Dan was an inspirationto my son who lost a leg in an accident while on duty with the SFPD. He was there in a flash providing inspirational, monetary and technical support for the many months it took my son to recover, still on duty and now married with two children. I also tested his students in that he was a flight instructor in which he did a very good job. A radio station host with great popularity, inspirational Icon and by the way a one legged flight instructor that provided many students with his insight and professionalism.
Dan you did a really great job in life.
God bless you
Sincerely
Rich Batchelder
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