For all of you who passed through Hartford radio and WPOP in particular,
I'm afraid I have some sad news to report. Augie Santana has died. He was
truly one of the most unforgettable characters it has been my pleasure to
have known, a little rough around the edges but a genuinely decent and
thoughtful guy.

My thanks to Brian Caldwell for alerting me to the ever so brief mention in
Saturday's Hartford Courant. And thanks, too, to the very helpful people I
spoke with at the Courant, the Shaker Funeral Home, and the New Britain
Herald. With their assistance I have obtained the following obituary which
appeared in the Saturday, August 12th edition of the Herald:

"NEW BRITAIN -- Augustine Z. Santana, 81, of New Britain, CT died Thursday,
August 10, 2006 at New Britain General Hospital. Augustine was born in
Thornton, Arkansas and was the son of Julio and Caroline (Zavala) Santana.
He worked as a radio engineer for WPOP for several years. Augustine was a
U.S. Navy veteran during World War II. Augustine is survived by two sons,
Jose and Juan, both of New Britain, two daughters, Rosemarie Thibeault of
New Britain, and Carolann Norton of Florida, his sister Maria Ojeda of
Johnstown, PA, eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, several
neices and nephews. Funeral and burial services will be private. There are
no calling hours. The Paul A. Shaker/Farmingdale Funeral Home, 764
Farmington Avenue, New Britain, CT was in charge of arrangements.
www.shakerfuneralhome.com"

In the obit, Augie's WPOP career is somewhat understated. He worked at the
station for at least 40 years, the majority of them as Chief Engineer.
Augie was one of a kind. Whether it was his rhetorical "How goes the battle
for men's minds and women's bodies?" or "How are things in the land of
Zamboango?" or his pearls of wisdom such as "You don't have to study to be
stupid; it comes naturally," (sorry, that's merely the translation; I can't
say it in the original Spanish) I'm sure I am not the only one of us who
will remember our old "compadre" with a smile.


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_________________________________
Lee Gordon
http://www.leegordonproductions.com