Gary Dennis Short

Gary Dennis Short, 86, of Medina, passed away peacefully on August 30th at Hospice of Medina County after a long battle with COPD. Gary was born September 6, 1938, in Lima, Ohio to the late Robert H. and Frances (Feth) Short. Growing up in Mansfield, Ohio, Gary knew from the time he was a toddler that he wanted to be an announcer on the radio. His first "microphone" was the hose from his mother's vacuum cleaner!

After graduating from Mansfield Senior High School in 1956, Gary attended Miami University and subsequently embarked on a broadcasting career that would span nearly 45 years. Known for his commanding and confident baritone voice, Gary was a seasoned announcer, talk show host, and lifelong news junkie who was always on the lookout for a good story.

His first radio job was at WCLW Radio in Mansfield; he then moved to WNCO in Ashland, playing country music under the name of "Montana" Short. Gary worked at WEOL in Elyria and then became staff announcer and talk show host at WERE Radio in Cleveland, where he worked with Tim Conway. He also served as the weekend sports anchor at WEWS-TV (Channel 5).

Moving to Minneapolis in 1967, Gary served as a talk show host and freelance commercial announcer at WLOL Radio, and as the editorial commentator on KMSP-TV. Gary moved back to Ohio in 1971 to host a weekly public affairs talk show on WJW-TV (Channel 8) called "Speakout." He could also be heard during the morning drive as the news anchor for WDOK and WJW Radio.

In 1978, Gary took a job at WUAB-TV (Channel 43) in Cleveland as the anchor for their nightly "43 Newsbreaks" and their "Wall Street Journal Business Reports." When WUAB launched "The Ten O'Clock News," Gary became Editorial and Political Director for the program, producing all of the station's election coverage as well as writing, producing, and appearing on-camera for station editorials. A born curmudgeon, Gary took to writing editorials like a duck to water; he got to tell everyone his opinion and get paid for it! He always signed off his editorials with, "That's our opinion. What's yours?"

Gary received five Emmy Awards from 1990-1994 for Editorial Excellence from the Cleveland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; four Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Cleveland Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists; and the 1991 United Press International Midwest Regional Award for Best Editorial. Gary was inducted into the Silver Circle Hall of Fame by the Cleveland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1998. He retired from broadcasting as Station Manager for WUAB-TV in 2000. In 2007 Gary was inducted into the Radio/Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame of Ohio.

In addition to his career, Gary was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Lynn; his treasured children Stephanie (Bill) Gornall and Benjamin (Carrie) Short; his cherished granddaughter Elizabeth N. Gornall; dear brothers Michael Scott (Darcy) Short and Robert Randall (Beth) Short; dear sister-in-law Audrey (John) Speer; and several nieces and nephews.

Gary's life will be celebrated at Waite Funeral Home, 765 N. Court St., Medina on Friday, September 12, with calling hours from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. The Reverend Kelly Aughenbaugh of St. Paul's Episcopal Church will lead the celebration of life. A luncheon will follow at Waite Funeral Home. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.waitefuneralhome.com.

Instead of flowers, please consider donations to the American Lung Association: www.lung.org or Ideastream Public Media: www.ideastream.org.