Eugene Clifford Springer

AUSTINTOWN - Eugene “Gene” Clifford Springer, 87, passed away late Monday evening, Jan. 18, 2016, at Heritage Manor in Youngstown.

Gene was born in Chicago on Nov. 13, 1928, the son of Clifford and Ruth Anna Amelia Lance Springer, and was raised in the city’s western suburbs of Cicero and Berwyn. He began an on-the-air broadcasting career in the central Illinois city of Canton in 1947. Facing service induction, Gene enlisted for three years as a U.S. Army Public Relations Specialist and Broadcaster. His first stations were in Dayton, with WHIO-TV and in Omaha, Neb. with the Army Organized Reserve Corps. He served as producer, director, announcer, writer and combat reporter with the Far East Network of the Armed Forces Radio Service in South Korea during the war there.

Thereafter, the NBC-Northwestern University Summer Institute for TV Production preceded his schooling at DePaul University and Northwestern University to attain a B.S. degree in radio and television in 1956. Gene then returned to full-time broadcasting, becoming an early morning DJ and Public Service Director for WBCK in Battle Creek, Mich. Austintown became his home in 1961 when he joined the staff of WKBN Radio-TV as Director of Public Relations and Promotion. Five years later, he was appointed as the first Community Relations Director for The Youngstown Hospital Association. An appointment as Director of Development for the Suburban General Hospital Foundation took him to Pittsburgh in 1984, but he maintained his home in Austintown.

As Business Manager he served St Joseph Parish in Austintown for several years until his retirement in 1993.

Throughout his career, Gene continued free-lance public relations, announcing, writing and production work for radio, television and various profit and nonprofit organizations. Also, he belonged to, and, in some instances, served as an officer of professional and community organizations including United Appeal, Heart Association, the YSU Center for Creative Retirement, Greater Youngstown Safety Council, Goodwill Industries, Expectant Parents Club, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Lions Clubs of Canton and Battle Creek, Northeast Ohio Hospital Public Relations Association, Youngstown Ostomy Association, National Association of Hospital Development, National Society of Fund Raising Executives and the Greater Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council.

Gene is survived by his wife, Barbara Lee Baldock Springer, whom he married in 1950 in Canton, Ill.; his daughter, Sandra (John) Daniels of Canfield; his son, SGM(R) Greg (Heather) Springer of Atwater; three grandchildren, Jennifer (Charles) Lehotsky, Gregory Springer, and Jacob Springer. Gene also leaves his sister, Marilyn R. Springer, and his brother, Dr. Al Springer both of Pekin, Ill.

Private committal services were held. 

Gene has requested that memorial contributions take the form of a recollection, a prayer, or a gift to Canfield Operation Blessing, P.O. Box 652, Canfield, OH 44406.