Radio personality and theater founder Steve Zana dies, remembered as warm person who entertained others (2024)

Top Story Editor's Pick

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.

Northwest Indiana radio personality,Valparaiso Theatrical Company cofounder and Region theater performer Steve Zana died Friday after a battle with cancer.

Zana long hosted shows on the Valparaiso-based country music station Indiana 105.5 FM, X-Rock and other Adams Radio Group stations.

"With profound sadness we must report that our colleague and friend Steve Zana has passed away. Words cannot adequately express the loss we’re feeling and the immense grief weighing upon Steve’s wife and family at this time," Adams Radio Group posted on social media. "This tremendous loss will also be felt by the countless listeners Steve has embraced as friends across the Region since he began broadcasting on Indiana 105.5 over 27 years ago, and more recently on X-Rock 103.9 and Z107.1. Steve was 63. We humbly ask for prayers for our dear friend and his family. God Bless you, Steve."

People are also reading…

His colleague Mike Bonaventura, another Adams Group Radio personality, saidZana was a big presence on the radio who would want to be remembered "as a guy who provided entertainment, music, theater to the public" and his voice will "echo for millennia,"

"Steve was always such a genuinely warm man," he said. "Steve was ruthlessly funny off air, we would find something to giggle about everyday."

Zana had had a public struggle with cancer, often sharing posts about his treatment on social media.

In addition to being a familiar voice on the airwaves, Zana was a staple on the Northwest Indiana theater scene.

"It is with great sadness we share news of the passing of a dear theatre friend and colleague, Steve Zana. He was an actor, director, technical director, and cofounder of Valparaiso Theatrical Company. He loved bringing characters to life whether on stage, on the radio, or on the dance floor,"Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation said in a social media post."Please join us in celebrating the extraordinary life of Steve as we support his wife Colleen, and many friends and family. Exit Stage Left. We love you. You’ll be missed, but your eternal positive vibrations will carry on."

Valparaiso author and television industry veteran Michael Dowd met Zana while he and his wife Colleen were producing "The Man Who Came to Dinner" at the Beatniks on Conkey Theater in Hammond.

"I got asked by Colleen to run the audio for the production. Steve wound up with the lead role, and I got to know him and his wife through this production. Also, ironically, Steve worked AT WLJE radio station in Valparaiso, where I had worked there about 30 years ago. Colleen, ironically, worked at US Cable in Merrillville, where I started my career in television. We never worked together because I had left prior to her starting there. We all three had a lot of mutual friends, mainly through the jobs we had," he said. "I only met Steve earlier this year, I think it was back in June. Also, with Steve being from Louisiana, and my connection with New Orleans, we had a lot in common. Steve was a great, nice, wonderful human being, and I'm sorry he got sick and passed away. I just saw him at Town and Country grocery store in Valparaiso last week. I talked to him briefly. I'm very sorry we lost this man. He was a great radio personality, and human being. He will truly be missed."

A look back at Northwest Indiana businesses that closed in 2023

A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

Beer Geeks, one of the Region's first, most beloved and most influential craft beer bars, closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept.

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

88-year-old White Castle in Whiting, one of Chicago area's first, coming down to be replaced with new restaurant

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

The landmark 88-year-old castle-shaped White Castle in Whiting is coming down to be replaced with a newer, larger, more modern White Castle restaurant.

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

Westforth Sports gun shop in Cal Township closing after 66 years

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

The longtime Westforth Sports gun shop is closing.

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

Lansing plant to close, laying off 274 workers

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

The Silver Line Building Products plant at16801 Exchange Ave. will be shuttered permanently.

Localbusinesses

Highland's Brewfest to pour last beer, eying move to Lowell

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Brewfest in Highland will close in what's been called "an end of an era."

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, could close all stores

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all stores if no buyer emerges to save it.

Whiting News

Alert Top Story Urgent

88-year-old Whiting White Castle will end up on display in museums in Illinois and Indiana

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

The 88-year-old Whiting White Castlewill be remembered with displays at museums in two different states.

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent Topical

88-year-old Whiting White Castle serves last sliders to nostalgic crowd

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

For years, the "millionaire's club" met every morning in the corner booth of the historic 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Boulevard and 119th Street in downtown Whiting. The landmark restaurant served its final slider Tuesday.

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

One of Northwest Indiana's most popular and enduring hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the longtime owner died.

Local News

Urgent

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

J&L This N That Consignment Shop, a popular thrift store, closed in downtown Whiting after a run of several years.

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

Calumet Fisheries temporarily closed after failing health inspection

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

A Calumet Region institution, Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago, is temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection.

Local News

Alert Top Story

Calumet Fisheries suffers fire shortly after reopening after health inspection closure

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Just days after reopeningafter city health inspectors shut it down, Calumet Fisheries suffered a major fire.

Local News

Alert

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso after 43 years

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso.

Local News

Alert Top Story Urgent

Former Beer Geeks bar closes after rebranding

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Beer Geeks in Highland rebranded as B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months.

Business

Top Story Urgent

Bed Bath and Beyond to close Valparaiso store and multiple Chicagoland locations, leaving just one Region location left

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

Troubled retailerBed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso location as it shutters more stores nationwide as it looks to restructure and shrink its footprint to save the struggling business.

Local News

Alert Urgent

Peoples Bank closes downtown Hammond branch

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond.

Business

Editor's Pick

Viking Artisan Ales to close Merrillville taproom

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Viking Artisan Ales will soon pour its last craft beer at its Merrillville taproom.

Local News

Alert Top Story

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is closing after 15 years at one of Northwest Indiana's most prominent highway interchanges.

Local News

Urgent

Walmart closing Homewood store

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • Updated
  • 0

Walmart is closing its big-box store in Homewood.

Local News

Alert Top Story

Chicago Auto Show returns with smaller footprint, no Camp Jeep track

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

The Chicago Auto Show, the nation's largest auto show, returns to McCormick Place Saturday, running through Feb. 19.

Local News

Alert Top Story

Munster-based Land O'Frost laying off 215 workers in Chicago

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Munster-based Land O'Frost, the packaged lunchmeat giant, is laying off 215 workers in Chicago and shuttering a plant it acquired two years ago.

Local News

Urgent Editor's Pick

Ginuwine to trot out hits like 'Pony' at Festival of the Lakes

  • Joseph S. Pete
  • 0

Ginuwine will trot out hits like "Pony" at Festival of the Lakes.

0 Comments

'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

Radio personality and theater founder Steve Zana dies, remembered as warm person who entertained others (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 5295

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.