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A Tribute to Radio Pioneer Mark Domsic
mark and station
manager howard sharper
by Mark R. Leffler
In Loving Memory of
Mark Domsic
May 15, 1958
May 23, 2000
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
St. Hedwig Cemetery
What can you say about a guy who leaves a law practice to work at a radio
station? And a public radio station at that.
Mark Domsic, attorney, programming director and host of The Eclectic Chair,
The Blue Room, and co-host of Blues Roots with his friend and
co-conspirator Don "Ziggy" Zeigler, was many things to many people: a
loving son, a unique friend and co-worker, champion of the musical underdog
and de facto Dean of the College of Musical Knowledge at Delta College's
WUCX-FM, 90.0.
It's hard for me to remember exactly when I first became aware of Mark as
the voice of "The Eclectic Chair." For those of us who enjoy the fringes of
popular music, his programs were a whiff of pure oxygen (or maybe nitrous
oxide) in the musty environment that is FM radio.
What made Mark and his show stand out wasn't just the "college progressive"
kind of music he proffered to listeners (Tom Waits into XTC into Robert
Johnson into Patsy Cline into Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan into... well, you get
the idea) but also the righteous mellow voice that intoned his trademark
"Greetings and salutations..." Sure, he knew vast numbers of artists and
their catalog, but there's a considerable difference between knowing lots
of musicians and producing a show that is informative and entertaining, not
simply self-indulgent.
Mark was always generous with his invitations to friends (and even more
casual acquaintances such as myself) to bring a stack of CDs or tapes out
to the station to tape a segment of the show. The list of his guests was as
varied and eclectic as his playlist. He deftly guided us into promoting our
various projects and, as long as you didn't blubber too loudly when he
swept aside 2/3 of the music you brought (his "NO ZEPPELIN" policy was
strictly enforced), you were welcome to return.
When I moved to California last February he invited me to tape a bon voyage
edition of the show. I was stunned and touched when he added that I should
bring along Going to California by you-know-who. I never got to tape that
show, but the offer meant a lot. For forty-something guys like us it was
like a bear hug and a big wet kiss.
And weeks later, when I returned to Saginaw pretty emotionally tattered
from my California misadventures, I ran into Mark out at Delta, who again
invited me to do the show. I mentioned my obsession with the new Steely Dan
release and he wanted to do a show featuring it. We made vague plans.
Mark had just turned 42. I'm 40 myself. For those of us who have never
married or had children there is a temptation, at times, to wonder what
kind of a footprint we will leave. Mark Domsic was a big man with a big
heart and big passions. But like the famed Japanese film actor Godzilla he
also leaves a big footprint. His life and his programs reached listeners
far beyond the Tri-Cities.
Broadcasting was never Mark's profession or career, it was more like a
calling - his religion (with no disrespect intended to the Roman Catholic
Church he was raised in). And now our congregation has lost its pastor.
We will miss him dearly and our thoughts and prayers are with his friends
and family. "What it is I know not But with gratitude My tears fall." Issa
A memorial scholarship fund in Mark's name is being established to benefit
Broadcasting students at Delta College. Donations in his memory may be sent
to Delta Broadcasting, Delta College, University Center, MI 48710. Or call
517-686-9350 for more information.)
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