The Longest Relationship I’ve Ever Had is With Lori Voornas and it’s Coming to an End

Now let's not take this the wrong way, okay? Just because I used the word "relationship" doesn't mean we're romantically involved. Neither Lori nor I wants anything to do with that.

This work relationship we've had for about 30 years is something you don't find very often in radio. Here's the story behind how it all began.

Meeting Lori For the First Time

I met Lori for the very first time in the late 90s at a charity celebrity ice skating event at what was then called the Cumberland County Civic Center. I don't know how to ice skate and proved it in front of a crowd by landing flat on my back on the ice several times.

Lori was the one who came over and brushed the ice off my back. She was on WMGX at the time, and I was on Q97.9 with Meredith. It's something I've never forgotten, more for the humiliation than the generosity, but it was apprecaited.

I'm Not a Hugger, But Guess Who is

When Lori joined Meredith and me on Q97.9 in 1999, it didn't take long for her to discover my vulnerabilities and to this day takes any chance she gets to make me uncomfortable....constantly:

It's seriously like we're brother and sister. Older sister.

Let's Get Serious For a Moment

So Lori has announced she is retiring from radio. News outlets and social media sites were all over it after she did. It's a big deal.

As someone who has worked in the same room with Lori for approximately 6500 days minus vacations and holidays, I can honestly say that no one in the business I know of has a work ethic and passion for radio like Lori Voornas.

She's always preparing for the next show. She's always working long hours. When Lori puts her mind to something like Cans For a Cure, Secret Santa and all the other appearances she makes to meet the people who listen to us, she goes all out even as she approaches the finish line.

One question I got asked after the announcement that Lori was retiring from radio was, "Who's going to be the next Lori Voornas?"

The answer is that there is no "next" Lori Voornas. She's the gold standard in radio and is beloved by enough people to fill the Cross Insurance arena three times over. I'm truly honored to have been there for most of her radio career.

PS: I did the math on the number of days we've worked together, and it checks out.