Tom Riley Passes Away

[ToonaRockGuy]

The area loses another music friend with the passing of Tom Riley of Tipton. Tom was a great guy, and one of the nicest people you would ever have met. Summers at DelGrosso's won't be the same without him. God Bless, my friend.

[AtoMikEnRtiA]

yeah i just read that today on WTAJ's website - said he was only like 50 and suffered a massive heart-attack.. thats very sad to hear..

[Jim Price]

I used to work alongside Tom on the AM side of the radio dial back in the late 80's and early 90's. As said, he was a very nice, pleasant person, warm personality and always with a smile on his face. He used to play the straight guy alongside Sean McKay's crazy antics back in the day, during what many consider to be the peak of AM radio in the Altoona area.

If you frequented Delgrosso's/Bland's Park, the Railroader's Memorial Museum or the Horseshoe Curve, Tom Riley's voice was often the one doing the announcements and narration for events. He did a lot of charity work as well.

I last got to see Tom in September, at the annual Italian Food Festival at Delgrosso's Park. As Toona said, it won't be the same at Delgrosso's Park without seeing him there, especially during the Italian Food Festival.

I have a lot of fun memories from my days working with Tom and Sean, and some funny memories as well. He will be missed.

[Hawk]

Many of you might not know it, but Tom was a good trumpet player in high school. I played in the BG pep band with him. Our first practice was at his house. His whole family made me feel comfortable and at ease. Just very nice people.

My memories of those good ol' days have been going through my head today. Tom often had us laughing.

Tom, we're going to miss you. God Bless you and your family.

[MOONDOGGY]

He was a nice guy. I would run errands to his office a lot when I worked at the Park. (Yeah, I admit it!) I never saw the guy with out a smile on his face. He was definitely an asset to the Park and a lot of other businesses I'm sure.

[Blain]

WFBG must have been quite a place when guys like Riley, Stan Davis, Jay Randyll, and McKay were all there. Who else would have been in the building then? I bet it was a wild place.

[Big Jim]

I'm shocked to read this news. Tom used to shop in the store I worked at. He was a friendly person, always smiling. I made a point of sitting and chatting with him a bit at the Italian festival about a month ago. He was always so "full of life" and way too young to be gone. He will be missed. My condolences.

[Jim Price]

Yeah, WFBG was quite a wild place back then. There was also Steve Kelsey, J.R. DiAndrea, Mike Stone, Steve Austin, "The Destroyer" Dave Daniels, Donna Dunkle and more. I have lots of funny stories from that era - it was pretty crazy!

[Larry]

I used to love listening to McKay and Riley back in those days. McKay always called him "Rile".

WFBG was THE radio station in Altoona then. I also liked the top 9 at 9. And, WFBG was one of the first places that I ever heard Metallica (the Cliff Burton days).