Passing of a Chicago Disability Advocate, Bill Jurek

Chicago - Sad to report the recent passing of Bill Jurek, former staff announcer at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 and longtime contributor to WLIT FM 93.9 and many other Chicago radio stations. Jurek, who was 67, died Sunday after a long illness. He most recently was program manager of CRIS Radio and host of “The Beacon,” a syndicated public-affairs program on disability advocacy. 

After losing his vision in 1995, Mr. Jurek became a spokesman and mentor for people who are blind. “Bill was a great talent, a gifted speaker and a kind and good man,” said Dominic Calabrese, senior vice president of the Chicago Lighthouse.