Stanley J. Jasinski
Pioneer Category – Inducted 1985
Stanley J. Jasinski, one of Buffalo’s most
outstanding public figures in the field of broadcasting, was born August
25, 1915 in Detroit, Michigan.
 While
still in high school as an amateur actor and script writer, Stanley
began his broadcasting career. As opportunity would have it, one day in
1934, he sat behind a microphone at Radio Station WEXL in Royal Oak, to
fill in unexpectedly for an ailing colleague who was program host. From
that day forward, Stanley’s career was on solid ground.
From 1937-1940 he announced at WJDK in Detroit. A
genius at offering something for everyone, Stanley built a following
that even survived his move to Buffalo, New York. Good years at WBNY
and WHLD preceded his new challenge in 1945 when he was drafted into the
U.S. Army. As a serviceman based in Germany, Stanley wrote, produced,
and directed a variety of programs for the American Forces Network Radio
Stations. His tour of duty took him to Frankfurt, Kassel and Berlin.
In 1947, Stanley returned to Buffalo, but this time
to supervise the construction of Radio Station WWOL in Lackawanna, New
York. While he served for three years there as manager and program
director, he paid very close attention to the many-faceted physical and
entrepreneurial aspects of organizational growth and development. Why?
It has always been Stan’s dream to build and operate his own radio
station.
This dream would be realized, but not for almost 14
years. During those interim years, however, at WKBW and then WWOL, he
developed an incredibly large listening audience and established
amazingly high station ratings that remained unchallenged until the rock
’n roll era that took the air waves by storm.
In 1964, after a lengthy but rewarding application
process, Stan Jasinski built Radio Station WMMJ and became its first
President, General Manager, and majority stock holder. In the same
year, he organized Ultravision Broadcasting Company for the purpose of
building the first independent commercial television station in
Buffalo. He successfully crossed career paths from radio to television
when he became President and Director of WUTV, Channel 29.
Jasinski directed and hosted
weekly programs on WXRL (the former WMMJ in Lancaster, NY.)
While Stanley was an energetic, vital public figure,
as well as a loving, devoted husband and father. His wife, Chestress,
in turn offered him years of support and encouragement. Mr. & Mrs.
Jasinski had two daughters. Michelle J. Marinello, Ph.D., is a
cytogeneticist in the Department of Medicine at the Buffalo General
Hospital. Marie J. O’Connor, Ph.D., is Managing Director of the
Hartford Symphony Orchestra in Hartford, Connecticut. The Jasinski’s
had one grandson, Jamie Marinello, a seventh grader at Cathedral
School. Stanley Jasinski, truly a legend in his own
time, has passed away. |
