I first met Gene Kern when I went to work at CKWX in 1957. I was a 19 year old kid and many of the mature announcers saw me and my music as a nuisance. People like Jim Robson, Ron Robinson, Bob McGavin, Roy Jacques and Gene Kern were most pleasant to work with. I believe they saw the future and it was rock and roll.

Gene always took time to show me the ropes on the studio equipment. Once in a while he would coach me on improving my radio speech. He was a genuinely warm human being.

I always looked forward to seeing Gene at our twice yearly RPM get-togethers. He was from the age of formal announcers, which are few and far between in this day and age. John Ashbridge comes to mind as continuing with the tradition.

Gene had many duties over the years, announcing radio quiz shows, dramas, live country shows and of course commercials. He wrapped his career at CKWX as production manager. He will be missed.

A celebration of Gene’s life will be held at Boal Chapel Memorial Gardens, 1505 Lillooet Road in North Vancouver on August 11 at 2pm.