Obituary for Mike Price
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) –John Michael 'Mike' Price, 87, of LaFayette, NY, passed away in Florida on May 7, 2025. He was born on August 3, 1937.
Mike was a Syracuse native and graduated from Valley High School. He attended Syracuse University and the Academy of Broadcasting Arts in New York City. After a short broadcast career at WSOQ radio he became a staff announcer at Channel 9 in Syracuse when the station first signed on in 1962.
During his 46 years at NewsChannel 9, he took on various roles including 'Baron Daemon,' 'Cousin Orkie,' weatherman, sportscaster, 'Open Line' host, and 'Good News' reporter. He even recorded a 45 rpm record, 'The Transylvania Twist,' which is the top-selling local single in Central NY. Mike received the Syracuse Press Club's highest honors, and upon retirement, NewsChannel 9 renamed one of their studios 'The Mike Price Studio' in his honor.
Mike spent 30 years in the Coast Guard, both active & reserve, produced an award-winning documentary 'Into the Gulf' while serving in Desert Storm, and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
He was a PA announcer for the Syracuse Chiefs, did a stint as 'Ronald McDonald,' and acted in various stage performances.
Mike umpired softball and officiated both football & hockey at the high school and collegiate levels for over 40 years.
He was appointed Gael of the Year by the Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade and was a drum major in parades for the Central New York Police and Fire Marching Band.
After his retirement, Mike traveled worldwide, hosting trips with Holiday Vacations. He was also a proud member of the VFW. His charitable contributions included hosting telethons and visiting senior centers, schools, fundraisers, and public speaking engagements.
Mike was an avid Yankees and SU fan. He enjoyed camping, boating, various sports, American/military history, and music. Jazz was among his favorite music, and he even played the drums.
Mike was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Ida Price; brother, Charles 'Bill' Price; and son, Matthew Price. He is survived by his companion, Vaudine Fisher; daughter, Jennifer Price of New Port Richey, FL; sons, Charles Price of Lutz, FL and John Price of Marcellus, NY; granddaughter, Christina Lanclos (Grant) of Lutz, FL; great grandchildren Brooklynn and Matthew Lanclos; two nieces; a nephew; and his cats, Buddy and Baby.
Services will be private. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Syracuse International Jazz Fest in Clinton Square on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 4 p.m. All of Mike's fans are cordially invited to attend.
Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association or the SPCA.
To express sympathy, please visit www.fairchildmeech.com
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Coco Gauff's French Open title came with a trophy she wasn't expecting
Coco Gauff's French Open title came with a trophy she wasn't expecting Show Caption Hide Caption Jessica Pagula on accomplished Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro, Madison Keys Tennis player Jessica Pegula discusses how amazing it is to have other amazing American women in tennis dominating the sport. Sports Seriously Coco Gauff said the French Open was a championship she always wanted to win, so much so that she believes her come-from-behind finals win over world No. 1 Arya Sabalenka at Roland Garros last Saturday was meant to be. The best American women's tennis player since Serena Williams just didn't realize the trophy she grew up seeing on television isn't the one the winner gets -- and "it's really small," Gauff said. As Gauff celebrated her second Grand Slam tournament win in recent days, she has also made sure to show off the miniature French Open trophy she got as a prize. In a video posted to her TikTok account from a private jet coming back to the United States from France, Gauff explained that the trophy she was pictured with after defeating Sabalenka remained with the tournament. The 21-year-old then revealed the smaller version she got to bring home and compared it to a small Perrier water bottle and a glass to demonstrate its size. "It's like a mini replica of the trophy and I guess to compare it, it's really small," Gauff said. "... but it's the memories that matter the most." OPINION: Coco Gauff showcases her unrivaled fortitude in grueling French Open triumph Gauff became the first American since Williams to win the French Open, and it comes three years after she took a humbling defeat to Iga Swiatek in the French Open final. Gauff, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, previously won the U.S. Open in 2023, but this title ended up being more dramatic. Gauff lost the opening set to Sabalenka in a tiebreaker before coming back to win the final two sets of the match. "That first set was so long. It was like an hour and twenty minute, and then I went to the bathroom, used the bathroom, and I kind of had a mini-panic session," Gauff said during an appearance on The Today Show on Monday. "I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm so close.' And I was like, 'Ok, you've got to chill out. Still a lot of tennis left to play.' Just splashed some water on my face and my legs and I went out there and I was like, 'Let me just leave it all out here and see what happens.' " What happened were two sets in difficult conditions in which Gauff got the better of Sabalenka, grinding out points by taking advantage of Sabalenka's mistakes. Gauff said on the "Today" show she felt relief after winning the U.S. Open. When she fell to clay as French Open champion, she noted, there was more pride than anything else because she had set out to prove she could win another major, and particularly this major. Gauff didn't yet know that the prize was a lot smaller than she may have pictured in her dreams. But the trophy was already growing on her. "It is adorable," she said. "It looks just like the real one, but smaller."
UPI
37 minutes ago
- UPI
Coolmore, trainer Aiden O'Brien enjoyed Derby weekend at Epsom
Jantar Mantar cruises to victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse, earning a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile in November. Photo by and courtesy of Masakazu Takahashi June 9 (UPI) -- While American fans and punters were focused on a stakes-filled weekend at Saratoga, much of the rest of the world had eyes on Epsom Downs in England this past weekend, where the Irish Coolmore "lads" and trainer Aidan O'Brien carried all before them. Jantar Mantar grabbed the mantle of leading Japanese miler with a smooth victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse, earning a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile into the bargain. England The weekend couldn't have gone much better for the Coolmore squad at Epsom, as Aidan O'Brien notched his 11th Derby victory Saturday after posting a 1-2 finish in the Betfred Oaks and a win in the Group 1 Coronation Cup on Friday. Admittedly, the Derby triumph came with a horse most would have regarded antepost as no better than second-best of three O'Brien runners. But it only matters what goes on the board after the race, and that was the name Lambourn, who led virtually every step of the 1 1/2 miles and held on stubbornly for jockey Wayne Lordan to win by 3 3/4 lengths over Lazy Griff. Coolmore's main chance and the race favorite, Delacroix, had trouble early in the race and lost position. Jockey Ryan Moore said that essentially eliminated him from any chance and he got home ninth, passing some tired rivals. The outfit's third runner, The Lion In Winter, reported 14th, tiring late. Lambourn is a son of 2024 Derby winner Australia, who in turn was sired by 2001 Derby winner Galileo. O'Brien said Lambourne's performance was not unexpected in the Ballydoyle yard. "Wayne rides him in all his work and, after his last piece, he told me he's absolutely there," O'Brien said, according to Racing Post. "He knew exactly what this horse was and what he was capable of doing and the word in our place was that Wayne wanted to ride the filly [Oaks runner-up Whirl] and him." "He's a Derby winner by a Derby winner by a Derby winner. It's pretty extraordinary," Coolmore's M V Magnier said. "I don't want to sound like a broken record, but that's how we win a Derby -- by breeding precocious horses that are quick enough to do it." Lordan and Coolmore filly Whirl almost pulled off a similar feat a day earlier in the Oaks, leading until the final strides before yielding to the better-fancied stable companion Minnie Hauk by a mere neck. That pair handed a first career defeat to the favorite, Desert Flower, winner of the Betfred 1000 Guineas among her five previous victories. The Godolphin filly never looked comfortable while stretching out to the 1 1/2 miles. She flattened out when asked by William Buick and was third, 4 lengths adrift of Whirl, at the finish. Minnie Hauk, a Frankel filly, was making her fourth start and first since winning the Cheshire Oaks at Chester on May 7. "Ryan gave her a beautiful ride and she's a very exciting filly, Racing Post quoted O'Brien as saying. "She's obviously learning and she's going to improve with racing." While O'Brien might have been comfortable watching the final furlong of the Oaks with a 1-2 finish seemingly in bag, he would have been less so in the late stages of the Coronation Cup. In that, Moore got Jan Brueghel to the front right about at the 2-furlong marker only to see Mickael Barzalona urge the favorite, Calandagan, up on his outside. The two were on even terms with a furlong to go, with neither yielding until Jan Brueghel inched clear in the final strides to win by 1/2 length. The 4-year-old Galileo colt now has won four of five starts and finished second in the other. "He stays the trip very well, he's an uncomplicated horse," Moore said on ITV Racing. "Aidan had him, as he always does, in unbelievable shape. He showed a great attitude." Japan His connections have yet to figure out why Jantar Mantar finished 13th in last December's Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile -- by far his worst-ever performance. But they likely care less about what happened six months earlier after the 4-year-old cruised to a trouble-free win in Sunday's Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse -- his third top-level victory. The Palace Malice colt, with Yuga Kawada up, took command while cresting the stretch hill and reported 1 1/2 lengths ahead of runner-up Gaia Force. The favorite, Soul Rush, last seen winning the Group 1 Dubai Turf over Romantic Warrior, settled for third. Jantar Mantar earned a "Win and You're In" spot in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar. Soul Rush already owns a ticket to that heat, thanks to the Dubai win. After a clean break from the middle of the 18-horse field, Kawada held an eager Jantar Mantar in check just behind the early leaders, while sticking to a path well off the inside rail. Turning into the stretch, he let the colt run, and he responded to grab the lead and finished with enthusiasm. Kawada said the race, from his perspective, wasn't as easy as it as Jantar Mantar was keen after his six-month vacation after Hong Kong. "The colt broke well and was in a good position in third to start," Kawada said. "But then he got a little over-excited as horses came from behind, so I got a little worried. The colt just barely managed to contain himself as much as he could after that." The son of Palace Malice won the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at age 2 and the NHK Mile Cup last season. "I knew he would become a potential miler when he won the Asahi Hai as a 2-year-old and was certain he was the best miler in Japan when taking the NHK Mile Cup title," the jockey said. Today, he's justified his talent, so I'm happy for that."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Coco Gauff Reveals Promise Note After Winning French Open
Coco Gauff Reveals Promise Note After Winning French Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Coco Gauff won the 2025 French Open on Saturday, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff came back from a set down to win at Roland Garros, becoming the first American woman to win there since Serena Williams in 2015, and the youngest American since Williams in 2002. Advertisement In her post-match speech, Gauff thanked the French crowd for its continuous support and quoted musician Tyler the Creator. "If I ever told you that I had a doubt inside me, I must be lying," she said. "So I would like to leave that with you guys. I think I was lying to myself, and I definitely could do it. Shoutout to Tyler and shoutout to you guys." American Coco Gauff kisses the trophy after winning the women's singles title at the French Open.© Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Shortly after walking off the French clay for the final time this year, Gauff shared a meaningful, self-written note from June 8, 2021, on her Instagram story, manifesting her Grand Slam Victory. It served as a motivating reminder for the 21-year-old throughout her journey to her first title in Paris. Advertisement "I had a dream last night that I will win french open idk if it is true or if if it is this years french open but it had a dream abt it," Gauff wrote when she was 17. Coco Gauff shares a self-written message about a dream she had in 2021, which finally came true on Gauff, Instagram In another post, Gauff paid tribute to 2024 Olympic 200-meter track and field champion Gabby Thomas, saying she felt inspired to follow in her footsteps and reach her own goals. "ignore my handwriting but I saw Gabby Thomas do this. had to do the same lol," Gauff posted. On a piece of paper, Gauff repeatedly hand-wrote, "I will win the French Open 2025." Coco Gauff manifests 2025 Roland-Garros victory and pays credit to Gabby Thomas for Gauff, Instagram Gauff's win on Saturday adds a second Grand Slam title to her career, following her U.S. Open victory in 2023. Advertisement At just 21, Gauff has reached two French Open finals in three years. Related: Coco Gauff Receives Message From PGA Tour After French Open Win This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
