Obituary: William O'Shaughnessy, Chairman of Whitney Global Media

William O’Shaughnessy, chairman of Whitney Global Media, owner of Westchester radio stations WVOX and WVIP and author of several books, died Saturday at his home in Litchfield, Connecticut. He was 84.

The longtime broadcaster was a force of nature, with an outsize presence and influence and a wide-ranging network of personal and professional friends. O'Shaughnessy's books include "Radio Active"; "Mario Cuomo, Remembrances of a Remarkable Man" and collections of interviews, essays and observations, the fourth of which — "Vox Populi, The O’Shaughnessy Files" — was published in 2010.

In 1999, the New York Times called him "a flamboyant figure, a tall man with bright silver hair and a penchant for London-made suits and Corvette convertibles" in a profile that captured both his personality and his softer side.

"A champion of the First Amendment, Bill was a legend in the radio business," said journalist Phil Reisman, who broadcasts the "High Noon" talk show on WVOX with fellow journalist Matt Richter.

"Bill was an historian. He chronicled the lives of newsmakers, tastemakers and scoundrels in his books," Richter said on Facebook. "When one of Bill’s books would come out, anyone who thought they were “someone” in Westchester County would immediately search the glossary of names to see if they got a mention.

"Bill was a true bon-vivant the personification of grace — I’ll always remember him wearing a tailored shirt, royal blue, double-breasted coat, crisply starched slacks, fine Italian loafers (no socks, of course) and his signature mane of white hair. He commanded attention in every room."

Instead of flowers, the O’Shaughnessy family and WVOX & WVIP suggest a donation in his honor to the Broadcasters Foundation of America, where he was a long-time member of the foundation's Board of Directors and Chairman of its Guardian Fund.

“The Board of Directors and I are saddened at this tremendous loss to our profession,” Scott Herman, Chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation said in the announcement. “A true wordsmith, Bill was known for his eloquence in his speech and his writings. His letters to raise funds for The Broadcasters Foundation’s Guardian Fund struck a chord with everyone who read them, so graceful and elegant was his prose.”

In honor of O’Shaughnessy’s commitment to broadcasting and his devotion to the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation to provide aid to past and present professionals in broadcast radio and TV, The William O’Shaughnessy Memorial Fund has been established. To donate, click here and indicate that your donation is in his memory.

“Bill was often found holding court at his favorite establishments, including Le Cirque and The 21 Club," Jim Thompson, co-president of the Broadcasters Foundation said in an announcement. “A true iconoclast who gave back to the profession that he loved dearly, we will all remember Bill fondly in our hearts.”

He was born April 7, 1938 to William Mac O’Shaughnessy of Elmira and Catherine Pauline Tucker of Waverly.

He grew up in Mount Kisco and began his career in 1957 at the original WVIP on Radio Circle. He was the station’s top advertising salesman at the age of 21. From there he moved to WNEW in New York. He presided for 67 years over WVOX and WVIP.

He was married twice, first to Ann Wharton Thayer with whom he had three children: Matthew Thayer O’Shaughnessy, David Tucker O’Shaughnessy and Kate O’Shaughnessy Nulty, and five grandchildren: Tucker Thomas Nulty, Flynn Thayer Nulty, Amelia Jane Nulty, Isabel Grace O’Shaughnessy, and Lily Anna O’Shaughnessy.

He later married Nancy Ellen Curry, which ended in divorce.

In recent years, he lived with his “compadre” and companion Gregorio Alvarez in Litchfield, Connecticut, where he was a father to three cockapoo dogs, Coco, Jack, Stella Bella, and the late Lacey.

Visiting hours are scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lloyd Maxey funeral home at 16 Shea Place in New Rochelle. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South St., in Litchfield. Interment to follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, also in Litchfield.