Gene Rayburn, RIP

[Pete Kemp <kz1z@arrl.net>]

Gene Rayburn's daughter has confirmed that Gene Rayburn died Monday in New 
York at the age of 82. He had been
hospitalized in late November with heart problems; Gene had a bypass 
performed in the early 90s.

Gene's last television appearance will be on an A&E "Biography" of Mark 
Goodson in early 2000 (NOT part of their game
show hosts week in December).

Attatched is a shot from Gene's last photo session... for game show author 
and agent, Fred Wostbrock (pictured with Gene is
announcer, friend and fan Randy West). Gene had been living in an apartment 
in Encino. Shortly after these photos were taken
in the summer of 1999, Gene returned to New York to be closer to his daughter.

Although Gene had difficulty walking, and had taken to using a cane in the 
last two years, Gene was as sharp and witty as ever;
his trade-mark "Peck's bad boy" smiling and biting sarcasm were fully intact!

At his 82nd birthday party at a Toluca Lake restaurant Gene was in 
excellent spirits, and reminisced liberally about his years on
WNEW radio, "The Tonight Show", and his fabulous run with "The Match Game".

He recalled working as an NBC page with Dave Garroway when 30 Rockefeller 
Plaza had only recently opened in the
1930s.Gene said that he and Dave were in awe over the beautiful decor, 
thick carpets, and parade of talent that they met in the
halls. His favorite pastime as a page was sneaking into 8H to listen to 
Toscanini rehearse the NBC Symphony. Gene
remembered being amazed at the maestro's ear; he could pick out a single 
wrong note from one of the over 80 musicians.

Gene was one of New York's most endearing and enduring personalities.

(Via Randy West)