Former Pittsburgh TV Reporter Dies

PITTSBURGH, PA — Jack Etzel, a reporter who for more than two decades was known for his "Etzel at Large" features on WPXI-TV, has died.

Etzel "peacefully signed off on June 24, 2025, at the age of 91, with the sole regret that he did not draft this obituary himself," his obituary stated. "(Or maybe he did, but his family just hasn’t found it in the myriad pages of his writing, music, and other memories.)"

According to the obituary, Etzel worked for eight radio and three television stations, including roles as the news director at WFIE Evansville and the Illinois Bureau Chief for KMOX St. Louis prior to his move to Pittsburgh’s WPXI in 1974. With WPXI, Jack created and produced more than 3,700 editions of “Etzel at Large,” feature stories of people and places.

Several of the features won Golden Quill, Printer’s Devil, and Pittsburgh Black Media Federation awards. In 1989, the “Jack of All Trades” segment debuted on the weekends, where Etzel provided home improvement tips.

After his retirement from television in 1997, Jack went on to host "The Handyman Show" for WPTT-FM radio, write for North Hills Monthly Magazine, and teach mass communications at La Roche College.