Ed Jurak passes at 75

[radiofan]

From Gord Lansdell at Northwest Broadcasters

Former Vancouver announcer/engineer Ed Jurak died Saturday, January 26 at age 75 after battling several health issues over the last few years. He hosted weekends and fill-in at CKLG/CKLG-FM Vancouver 1963-66, was on air at CHTK Pr. Rupert from 1966-71 and station engineer from 1976-79. Jurak was an operator/on-air/engineer at CKO-FM Vancouver from 1983-89, chief engineer at CKST Langley/Vancouver from 1991-2002 and engineer for the CHUM Radio Group Vancouver 2002-04 when he retired. A celebration of life is being planned for the near future.

[gtbell]

A nice man. Loved radio.
RIP, Ed.

[Neumann Sennheiser]

A nice man. Loved radio.
RIP, Ed.

I can only wish that someday someone will say something that kind and succinct about me.

[cart_machine]

Ed told me of a time in Prince Rupert when he was forced to do a sportscast. He knew nothing about sports or the teams involved. So he simply gave the scores: 4-3, 2-1, 6-4. He didn't name any teams; he just gave the scores.

The "O" in CKO must have stood for how much money was in the engineering budget. Ed kept that station on the air with odds and ends from Radio Shack and his own improvisations. He could fix anything.

There was one time part of the vast CKO complex (it used to be a Cunningham Drugs warehouse) had a power failure, including the control room. Ed simply went out to his VW van, grabbed a long lawnmower extension cord (Ed lived in an apartment and had no lawn) plugged it into the board and ran it down to the end of the hall where a government office still had power. The station was back on the air.

CKO had a gentleman by the name of John Gilbert who treated people like they were his own personal staff. Gilbert had Ed drive to Tsawwassen to fix his home stereo on a Sunday. Not on work hours and free of charge, of course. I asked Ed why he let Gilbert push him around like that, and he simply replied that Gilbert needed help so he helped him.

He was at home in an engineering land of tape machine heads, patch cords and busted Fidelipacs. As engineering became more and more computer-oriented, I think it kind of left him behind.

Ed was one person who tried to keep in touch with little groups of people he worked with over the years. It was nice to chat with him and get updates on Jolly John, or Gordon Johnson, or Lloyd Finlayson (before Lloyd passed away).

He's probably one of the friendliest people I've ever worked with and rarely blew up. He loved non sequiturs and things that were quirky and odd (which is probably why he still looked with fondness on CKO). I'm sorry he's gone.

cArtie.

[don'tpanic]

Ed played a role in a very goofy incident involving a visit to CFTK Terrace by JB Shane. JB joined me on air and astounded the listening audience by - in the character of Sepp Dietrich - contorting himself into a Coke can.

Not satisfied with 'the theater of the mind', Sepp (JB) then said he'd repeat the feat at the Corner of Lazelle and Emerson, right outside the ratty old house that served as TK's home.

Now at the appointed hour, JB was long gone, so out comes Ed...placing the Coke can on the sitewalk, then putting one foot on the top. Ed proceeded to bend down and drop little pieces of bread into the can...and he walked away. One of the locals who 'just happened' to be hanging around this corner, ventured over, peered into the can, and squeaked, 'I see him!'

Crossed paths with Ed at CKST years later. A kind, sweet soul.