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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."
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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
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