Chicago's beloved sports radio host Harry Teinowitz has sadly passed away at the age of 64, the New York Post reported.
Teinowitz's death was due to complications following a liver transplant.
His passing was reported by the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday, marking a significant loss in the sports broadcasting community of Chicago.
In the mid-1990s, Harry Teinowitz began his broadcasting career with a sports comedy show on WMVP (ESPN 1000). This marked the start of what would become a vital presence in Chicago’s sports media landscape.
His engagement and tenacity during the station's restructuring phases in the 1990s helped him gain a formidable reputation among Chicago sports fans.
Teinowitz joined the show "Mac, Jurko & Harry" in 2001, which soon turned into a fan favorite, significantly boosting his profile across the area.
Beyond his radio persona, Teinowitz was also known for his contributions to the arts, working as both an actor and a playwright.
His creative side was evident in his play “When Harry Met Rehab,” inspired by his own journey through rehabilitation following a DUI arrest in 2011. This play was successfully performed at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Lincoln Park in 2021 and off-Broadway in New York City last fall.
He also had a role in the 1983 comedy film “Risky Business,” showcasing his versatility as an entertainer.
Carmen DeFalco, a colleague, remembered Teinowitz with fondness, “He just had a million ideas, and he always wanted to be funny. He was always thinking of silly, creative, goofy things to do, and he believed in all of them. He always committed to the bit."
"If it flopped, he didn't care. He just wanted to try," DeFalco added, highlighting Teinowitz's fearless nature in the entertainment world.
Similarly, Jarrett Payton, another acquaintance and admirer, expressed his deep sadness, "Got the call today that my good friend Harry Teinowitz passed away, & my heart just sank."
"He believed in me before I believed in myself. Always lifting me up, always in my corner. Harry was the kind of friend everyone hopes to have in their life,” Payton continued, evidencing the deep personal connections Harry forged during his career.
Throughout his tenure on-air and off, Teinowitz developed relationships with many well-known sports personalities, which only served to enrich Chicago's sports broadcasting culture even further.
Harry Teinowitz will be remembered not only for his voice that echoed through the radios of many homes but also for his expansive impact on sports journalism and the performing arts in Chicago.
