Sunday morning came with snow, and with grief, in the form of the news of the death of Lyn Bremer, the popular, prosperous, and beloved host on Chicago radio WXRT-FM 93.1.
The 68-year-old had spoken publicly about his treatment for prostate cancer. Sunday morning, fellow WXRT host and friend Terry Hemmert informed listeners of his death and said in part in the current situation“We must let you know that we have all lost our best friend. Lane Bremer fought cancer for as long as possible. He passed away early this morning, peacefully, with his wife (Sarah) and son (Wilson) by his side.”
Bremer has been on the air here since 1991, as the morning host until 2020, when he became the midday host.
He was born in August 1954 in New York and raised in Queens. A graduate of Colgate University in upstate New York, he began his broadcasting career at WQBK-FM in Albany (where he became known as the “Reverend of Rock ‘n’ Roll”), before arriving here to become music director at WXRT in 1984, helping In determining the character of that station.
Bremer met his wife, Sarah Farr, in college. “Yes, we were college sweethearts,” she said Sunday, adding that they dated for 16 years before getting married. “We didn’t want to spoil a good thing,” she said with a smile in her tone. “We got married in 1997 and it was amazing. I learned very early on that I was going to have to share Lin with thousands of others. I understood, and I was glad to do it because there was no difference between the guy on the radio and the guy I knew.”
When Bremer moved on to afternoons, he said in a typically upbeat statement, “As a veteran center fielder moving to first base, I look forward to hitting second. The joy of being a morning buddy for families who support 93 XRT matches the grueling schedule of someone who loves to go to Concerts at night. I’m not 29 anymore. I wish the phrase “Isn’t your bedtime yet?” applied to someone else for a while.”
This past July, Bremer announced he would Take a vacation from the station to continue his treatment, which included radiation, biopsies, and drug therapies. He returned to the airwaves in late November, saying in an interview With CBS2 Chicago’s Jim Williams, “It’s been a rough road. … Turns out I get a temporary break from chemo after my last session … So I’ll get a month and a half off without any injections — and that’s a nice ramp to boot.” And see how I’m doing, and see how I can handle hosting a radio show — and also fighting cancer at the same time.”
His return delighted his fans and friends. Many of them were crushed by the news of his death on Sunday and shared bright memories and tearful feelings.
Joe Shanahan, owner of the Metro music club, told me, “Nights at the Metro and days at Wrigley’s, he really helped carve out a new role on the ‘double-head’. We’ll miss him because he touched everyone in his own way. I’m just reeling. I’ve been praying and crying all morning.”
A devoted Cubs fan well known in Chicago, Bremer was the most accessible “celebrity” by taking pictures and participating in fan talks at a variety of charity and entertainment events. In addition to song selections influenced by his personality as a disc jockey, he was at his knowledgeable best in his brilliantly written on-air essays, dubbed “Lin’s Bin.”
“Lane was doing radio with an uncommon humanity,” said the Chicago-based artist and actor. Tony Fitzpatrick. “He was as good and warm as anyone who’s ever been on air.”
In a guest speaker column Contributed in 2012 For Tribune Printer’s Row, he wrote that “The Lane’s Box” begins with a question. …Where does the time go? Why are teenagers so eccentric? The questions come from unknown boys, from grieving mothers, from elementary school kids trying to understand older brothers and sisters. … I choose a question based on a simple quiz. Will I be able to answer this? If I think I can, I will continue to deduce it without pity. I never turned back.”
in 2013, he told the Tribune Teddy Greenstein has attended nearly 1,500 rock concerts, his favorite being a semi-secret performance at Double Door in 1997 by the Rolling Stones. WXRT only received three tickets, others took them, but Bremer said a friend in public relations saw him and waved him off.
He was inconspicuously known as “your best friend in the whole world.” Today there is very poignant in another of his phrases, with which he ends each daily program: “Don’t take anything for granted, it’s so wonderful to be alive.”
Bremer is survived by his wife and son W.B She will be immortalized on WXRT-FM 93.1 with a special block of programming starting at 10 a.m. on Mondays, which is when Brehmer began showing regularly. More memorials are being planned.
rkogan@chicagotribune.com