Gary Theroux

Gary Theroux, beloved husband and father, as well as an award-winning broadcaster, writer, producer, actor, and music historian, passed away August 9 in New Haven, CT at the age of 73.

Gary was born October 2, 1951 in Newark, NJ to parents Paul and Marjorie Theroux. Growing up, Gary loved being creative, whether it was drawing, making 8mm films or constructing his own board games with his older brother, David, and younger sister, Linda. The family moved several times, eventually settling in Bloomington, IL. While working at the Illinois State University campus radio station, Gary met Joan, the love of his life. They married in 1983, and after living in Los Angeles and New York, settled in Norwalk, CT in 1994. It was here they raised their two sons, Mark and Rick. Nothing brought Gary greater joy than spending time with family and friends, especially when pets were also involved.

After graduating college, Gary held an impressive range of positions in radio and media, notably at the esteemed KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, where he was a DJ and created the KIIS Broadcasting Workshop, which trained radio professionals. He also taught music and entertainment history for four years at UCLA. In 1978, he produced the syndicated award-winning radio series The History of Rock 'N' Roll. After moving to New York in 1982, Gary spent 20 years as Music & Entertainment Editor at Reader's Digest, where he curated over 300 CD and DVD releases, collectively selling over 39 million copies.

Other projects included WZFM's The Saturday Night Special, a call-in live request show he co-hosted with his dear friend and later life-saving kidney donor Kerin McCue, from 1982 to 1991. Gary also produced countless radio specials; his own sketch comedy TV series Cavalcade, which was broadcast and syndicated in the New York region; as well as authored a book, The Top Ten: 1956–Present, in which he shared behind-the-scenes stories of chart toppers. In his spare time, he acted in many theater productions, films, and commercials.

Most recently, he revived The History of Rock 'N' Roll, a radio show that was internationally syndicated, and created the annual radio series The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time. Both projects were hosted by friend and veteran broadcaster Wink Martindale, and co-produced with long-time friend and creative partner, Peter Jay Gould.

Gary's love of entertainment was surpassed only by his love and devotion to family and friends. Gary is remembered for his intelligence, perseverance, kindness, warmth, humor, storytelling abilities, and boundless creativity. He is survived by his wife, Joan; his sons Mark and Rick; nieces and nephews; and his sister, Linda. He was predeceased by his parents Paul and Marjorie, and his brother, David.

His family will receive friends on Friday, August 15, from 9:30 -11AM, with a prayer service starting at 11, at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery, Norwalk.