Former radio host from Bellevue charmed his way onto air

He was known to loyal listeners as "Uncle Dougie." He adopted the Groucho Marx song, "Hello, I must be going," as a personal anthem.

Veteran broadcaster Doug Hoerth, whose folksy wit was seen by many in Pittsburgh as an oasis in a sea of sniping political talk radio, died from heart disease in his Bellevue home. He was 66.

Bill Zimpleman, a friend who routinely met Mr. Hoerth for dinner on Tuesday nights, said Mr. Hoerth canceled two weeks ago, and he had been trying to contact him.

"I went down to his place (Tuesday) night and saw all the lights were out," said Zimpleman of Chalfant. "The building manager called the police, and they went in and found Doug laying on the couch dead. He may have been dead for a number of days."

Mr. Hoerth began his radio career in the 1970s at WFTL in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on a lark. He called the station one night when its talk show host was interviewing the program director.

At the time, he was a partner in a pest control business. The station hired him to do a gig on the show as a publicity stunt, and six months later, Mr. Hoerth sold his share of the business and became a disc jockey.

Mr. Hoerth came to Pittsburgh in September 1980 to work for WWSW. He later was hired by KDKA, and his career also took him to KQV, WTAE and WPTT. His longest stint was at WTAE, where John Poister came to know him.

"He was able to connect with his audience," said Poister, WTAE's news director in the 1990s, when Mr. Hoerth was the midday and afternoon host. "He was totally dedicated to his show and loved radio.

"I know of no one else in this business who worked harder. He spent 21 hours a day to prepare for a three-hour show."

His last day on the air was Dec. 7, 2007, when WPTT did not renew his contract.

Jim Haller of Shaler, a friend since 1981, said Mr. Hoerth "had no peers when it came to interviewing someone. He had a great sense of humor, a literary mind."

By Wednesday afternoon, sympathy messages began to trickle in to his fan club page on Facebook.

Alan Serena, vice president for operations at Renda Broadcasting in Green Tree, said Mr. Hoerth knew so much about many different topics.

"His WPTT afternoon shows were entertaining and not what you typically expected to hear on a talk station. From politics to pro wrestling to porn stars, Doug was as well-versed as he was diversed in his subject matter," Serena wrote. "His passion was music, especially the oldies he played Sunday nights on WJAS. He was a unique individual. Off air he was a quiet, reclusive person. News of his sudden passing was sad. I know a lot of Pittsburghers hope they get a chance to say their final farewells to a broadcasting legend."

Funeral arrangements were unknown. Zimpleman said that Mr. Hoerth did not want a funeral service but that friends may arrange a private memorial to honor him.