I was lucky enough to meet him, and to host him on our show, and to talk with him, though all that was many years ago. From what I am told, during these last years, he was tired, and deaf, and worn, and ready to go.  Still, though, Chicago just lost its heart.

I only have one Studs story. I offer it in the manner of tossing a daisy onto a huge pile of bouquets:

Back in 1998, when I first arrived in Chicago, WBEZ offered Studs a chance to continue doing interviews, after his long  partnership with WFMT came to an end. I made a point of coming down to watch from the control room, as he was 86, and who knew when the day would come when he would have to stop.

On this day, he was interviewing Howard Lyman, the former Texas cattle rancher turned healthy food advocate, who had been Oprah Winfrey’s co-defendant in a spurious  lawsuit filed by the Texas beef interests.  The case had just been dismissed.

“So, Howard, what you been up to?” shouted Studs. He was going deaf, and like a lot of such people,  spoke loudly.

“Well, Studs, I’ve been spending a lot of time down in Texas, with Oprah,” said Lyman.

“Oprah? Oprah who?” asked Studs, genuinely confused.

I looked at my friend Tish who was producing the interview, and we both looked down. Like I said, Studs was 86, and not quite the man he had once been. I could see Lyman, through the glass, and he leaned forward, in a kind way, to speak to Studs.

“You know, Studs…” he said gently. “Oprah Winfrey.”

“Oh sure, Oprah Winfrey!” said Studs, suddenly certain, suddenly smiling. “Ya see, I used to know an Oprah Levine.”

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