Don And Mike Show Goes On

Topics on Thursday's "Don and Mike Show" included boxers vs. briefs, the new CD released by former American Idol contestant William Hung and whether Mike O'Meara's itchy private rash was clearing up.

Standard fare for the afternoon radio comedy show on WJFK FM--but with the notable absence of Don Geronimo, the program's lead man.

But as his partner Mike O'Meara has pointed out time after time this week, Geronimo and his family are foremost in the crew's thoughts.

O'Meara announced on the air Thursday that Geronimo will return to the show on Aug. 1 following the death of his wife, Freda Wright-Sorce in a car accident this weekend.

After two decades on DC airwaves, listeners feel they know the gruff radio personality and his family.

Several times a week, he?d spar with Freda for all to hear. They?d discuss parenting their son, Bart, who is now 20 years old. They?d argue about sex. Freda would take her man to task if he mistreated a caller or misrepresented something she?d said.

But no matter what, Don always ended the conversation with "Love ya." And Freda would always answer "Love you, too, Boo Boo."

When word got out that Freda Sorce had been killed in a car accident outside Ocean City, Md., this weekend, it soon became one of the biggest news stories happening in DC. As one longtime Don and Mike Show fan put it: "It?s like hearing about the death of a close family friend. People felt like they knew her."

Freda Wright-Sorce, 50, was married to Mike Sorce--otherwise known as Don Geronimo--for 23 years. Geronimo and O?Meara have been partners on DC radio for almost as long. The Don and Mike Show is now syndicated nationwide and broadcast on WJFK FM in Fairfax.

Instead of closing down the show in the wake of Sorce?s tragic death on Sunday, the crew at "Don and Mike" have carried on. O?Meara presided over Monday?s show, taking calls from shocked and grieving listeners and playing old tapes of Freda on the show.

By Tuesday, at the request of Don Geronimo, the crew tried to get back to normal. They refused to take calls from people offering sympathy. Instead, the only related calls they accepted were from those who had met Freda and had a funny story to tell about her.

Private memorial and funeral services for Sorce are being held Friday and Saturday. The show will be off the air Friday so the crew can attend the memorial.

Meanwhile, tons of cards and flowers from fans are pouring in to the station lobby at WJFK in downtown Fairfax.

Sorce?s family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Worcester County Humane Society outside Ocean City. Freda loved animals and had a soft spot for the shelter. Donations should be sent in Freda?s memory to P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Md., 21811.

Anyone who wishes to send a card should mail them to the Sorce family c/o WJFK, 10800 Main Street, Fairfax, Va., 22030.