WILLIAM H. BILL BAIST THE GOLDEN VOICE William H. "Bill" Baist, Jr. was known in the islands as "The Golden Voice" for his smooth on-air delivery. He entertained island radio and television listeners for over 60 years. Baist died Tuesday October 11th, due to complications from prostate cancer at his home in Ewa Beach with his wife Margo by his side. He had been battling the cancer for 13 years. Baist was 76 years old. His greatest passion in life was a being a longtime deejay on KUMU Radio 94.7 FM for 30 years. Baist was still working on air for the station as of two months ago. "Radio and Hawaii are mourning the loss of one of its true gentlemen. Bill was nothing but a gentle, honorable, hard-working person. I was able to count him both as a colleague and a friend," said Michael Shishido, KUMU program director. Baist was born in Honolulu on November 29, 1939 to parents William H. Baist, Sr. and Sarah. He graduated from University High School in 1957. His love for the broadcasting business was lifelong, with his first gig as a staff announcer for KAIM radio at age 16. After attending college at the University of Oregon in Eugene, he co-managed, served as a deejay and was an account executive at a nearby station in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Baist had his first television on-air job as a weatherman at the CBS affiliate in Eureka, California in 1959. After returning to the islands two years later, he worked for Matson and Aloha Airlines in the advertising, marketing and sales departments. In 1965, he returned to broadcasting working for both KGMB radio and television as music director, deejay, traffic reporter and booth announcer. A year later he was at KGU radio working with Hal "Aku" Lewis and Lucky Luck. At the same time he worked part-time at KHON television staff announcing for their local programs. In 1968, Baist was hired to co-anchor the KHON News during the 6pm and 10pm newscasts with Don Picken. Baist also worked with KHON news anchor Bob Basso, "few human beings have universal love and admiration without a hint of negativity in who they were and how they went about living their life. Bill was at the top of the list in that rare category. He was the consummate gentleman. In all the years I knew him working in radio and TV, Bill's flawless integrity and selfless cooperation was always front and center. His soothing voice was the sound of Aloha. His heart was part of all the magic that made Hawaii so special. He lasted longer than all of us who joyfully labored in the "golden age" of local radio and TV for a very simple reason, he was the very best of us," said Basso. In 1970, he moved from anchoring to sales at KHON and spent over 20 years at the station becoming the face and voice of Honolulu Nissan-Chrysler-Plymouth, GEM, Sears, City Mill, Hawaii Pontiac dealers, J.C. Penney, American Savings Bank as well as many other stores and restaurants in the islands. Baist married Margo Massa on February 22, 1992, in Arcadia, California. After leaving KHON in the 1990s, Baist worked at Oceanic Cable working in the Oceanic Time Warner business class division until his retirement in 2011. He was an active Volunteer for the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii (VASH) for over a decade - and his "Golden Voice" always read the visitors' testimonials at VASH's annual Christmas Dinner. Baist is survived by his wife Margo; his children: Charles Baist (Tamera), Maylene Holmes (Mike), Tammy Principe (Christopher), Troy Salvatera, Rody Salvatera; grandchildren: Brandon and Melissa Baist, Caitlin, Lauren and Devon Holmes, Dante Principe, Sheldon and Richard Salvatera; great-grandchild: Dominic Baist. Memorial Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko'olau, 45-550 Kionaole Road in Kaneohe on Saturday October 22 from 10am-2pm. Burial to follow at 3pm at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery, 45-425 Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko'olau, Cancer Center of Hawaii, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements Provided By: Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary
WILLIAM H. BILL BAIST THE GOLDEN VOICE William H. "Bill" Baist, Jr. was known in the islands as "The Golden Voice" for his smooth on-air delivery. He entertained island radio and television listeners for over 60 years. Baist died Tuesday October 11th, due to complications from prostate cancer at his home in Ewa Beach with his wife Margo by his side. He had been battling the cancer for 13 years. Baist was 76 years old. His greatest passion in life was a being a longtime deejay on KUMU Radio 94.7 FM for 30 years. Baist was still working on air for the station as of two months ago. "Radio and Hawaii are mourning the loss of one of its true gentlemen. Bill was nothing but a gentle, honorable, hard-working person. I was able to count him both as a colleague and a friend," said Michael Shishido, KUMU program director. Baist was born in Honolulu on November 29, 1939 to parents William H. Baist, Sr. and Sarah. He graduated from University High School in 1957. His love for the broadcasting business was lifelong, with his first gig as a staff announcer for KAIM radio at age 16. After attending college at the University of Oregon in Eugene, he co-managed, served as a deejay and was an account executive at a nearby station in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Baist had his first television on-air job as a weatherman at the CBS affiliate in Eureka, California in 1959. After returning to the islands two years later, he worked for Matson and Aloha Airlines in the advertising, marketing and sales departments. In 1965, he returned to broadcasting working for both KGMB radio and television as music director, deejay, traffic reporter and booth announcer. A year later he was at KGU radio working with Hal "Aku" Lewis and Lucky Luck. At the same time he worked part-time at KHON television staff announcing for their local programs. In 1968, Baist was hired to co-anchor the KHON News during the 6pm and 10pm newscasts with Don Picken. Baist also worked with KHON news anchor Bob Basso, "few human beings have universal love and admiration without a hint of negativity in who they were and how they went about living their life. Bill was at the top of the list in that rare category. He was the consummate gentleman. In all the years I knew him working in radio and TV, Bill's flawless integrity and selfless cooperation was always front and center. His soothing voice was the sound of Aloha. His heart was part of all the magic that made Hawaii so special. He lasted longer than all of us who joyfully labored in the "golden age" of local radio and TV for a very simple reason, he was the very best of us," said Basso. In 1970, he moved from anchoring to sales at KHON and spent over 20 years at the station becoming the face and voice of Honolulu Nissan-Chrysler-Plymouth, GEM, Sears, City Mill, Hawaii Pontiac dealers, J.C. Penney, American Savings Bank as well as many other stores and restaurants in the islands. Baist married Margo Massa on February 22, 1992, in Arcadia, California. After leaving KHON in the 1990s, Baist worked at Oceanic Cable working in the Oceanic Time Warner business class division until his retirement in 2011. He was an active Volunteer for the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii (VASH) for over a decade - and his "Golden Voice" always read the visitors' testimonials at VASH's annual Christmas Dinner. Baist is survived by his wife Margo; his children: Charles Baist (Tamera), Maylene Holmes (Mike), Tammy Principe (Christopher), Troy Salvatera, Rody Salvatera; grandchildren: Brandon and Melissa Baist, Caitlin, Lauren and Devon Holmes, Dante Principe, Sheldon and Richard Salvatera; great-grandchild: Dominic Baist. Memorial Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko'olau, 45-550 Kionaole Road in Kaneohe on Saturday October 22 from 10am-2pm. Burial to follow at 3pm at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery, 45-425 Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko'olau, Cancer Center of Hawaii, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements Provided By: Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
