At the age of ninety-six Don Pardo, an NBC Hall of Fame announcer, passed away August 18 at his Arizona home after a long illness. His obituary was read by Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News, ABC News with Diane Sawyer, and probably The CBS News with Scott Pelly.

My obituary will be read by no one.

Mr. Pardo was an NBC announcer for over seven decades, and his shows included The Price is Right, Jeopardy, Three Men on a Match, Jackpot, Winning Streak, and his No.1, premier assignment: — SATURDAY NIGHT, LIVE! — a post he held for 36 years! (I just happened to catch him last Saturday night.)

He nominally retired from NBC in 2006, but continued to record his SNL intros from his studio at home.

I hope he had none of my problems with his retirement. When I contacted the executive Madame secretary and informed her of my plans to retire from broadcasting (I AM 83!) she told me the ‘books had been so well cooked’ that all money I had sent in as my iniation fee and dues, over my twenty-plus-years of continual employment had been divvied up among station brass. In short, there was no proof I was ever a member of AFRA or AFTRA!

I never collected a penny of retirement union funds, despite serving locally as shop steward and being elected (once) as an officer. (And I was told “you will be wise never to make an issue over this.”)

Mentioned now, only because of Mr. Pardo’s recent demise.




Copyright © 2014 by Robert A, Mills, all rights reserved, may not be published, nor re-written nor broadcast without author’s permission