KDKA talk show host Honsberger dies at 58

Longtime KDKA-Radio newsman and talk show host Fred Honsberger died at his Monroeville home this morning, the station said.

Honsberger, 58, joined KDKA in 1979 as a reporter after working as a news anchor at KYW-Radio in his hometown of Philadelphia. He also served as news director at WKBO Radio in Harrisburg, and was operations director at WRSC/WQWK in State College.

Honsberger was KDKA's news director for several years before becoming a talk show host for the station. He had been hosting the noon to 3 p.m. time slot since early January.

"The NEWSRADIO 1020 KDKA family is deeply saddened to learn that Fred has passed away," said Michael Young, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Radio in Pittsburgh.

"Fred truly loved the Pittsburgh area, the KDKA listeners and his colleagues at the station. His immense passion and the enjoyment and pride he took in preparing and producing his shows will be greatly missed. Fred's family has the station's deepest sympathies during this difficult period."

Honsberger is survived by his wife, Chris; and two sons, Kevin and Kyle. Visitation and funeral arrangements are incomplete.

He had hosted weekday afternoons on the station since Jan. 5, 2009. His last show was on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Honsberger joined KDKA in 1979 as a news anchor and reporter working the night shift, and as John Cigna and Roy Fox's newsman.

Later, he was named news director. Following that, he moved into the role of talk show host.

Honsberger has won multiple awards for his reporting, anchoring and series work. The most prestigious was the Dupont Award given to the Group W Radio reporters who covered the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster in 1979 of which he was part.

Talkers Magazine has named him as one of its Heavy Hundred talk show hosts for the past four years.