Joseph "Jay" F. LaPalme

Joseph "Jay" F. LaPalme Jr., 85, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2024. Born in Cohoes, NY, Jay was the son of the late Joseph F. LaPalme, Sr., and Julia V. (Smith) LaPalme. Joseph was the devoted husband of 40 years to Laura E.(Wong) LaPalme. 

Blessed with a deep, natural radio voice at 14, he started his broadcasting career at age 16 by winning a local teen disc jockey contest judged by legendary radio personality Lowell Thomas in 1955. The prize was a 13 week contract with WROW, making $25 a week for a half-hour show. While a senior in college and working as a shoe salesman at Montgomery Wards, a salesman from WROW stopped by and happened to mention that they needed a late night announcer. Jay got the job and ended up staying for over 30 years serving as the morning announcer, program director and production manager (his favorite position) which consisted of recording, editing and scoring local and national radio PSA’s (public service announcements), commercials and short features like Lowell Thomas’ weekly broadcast when Thomas (who owned WROW) was skiing in the Adirondacks. 

During his Troy High School and college years at Siena, he also acted in many local theatre productions (Albany Civic Theatre, RPI, etc.) usually portraying characters much older than he actually was thanks to his mature-sounding voice. Before the WROW radio job came along, he had planned to move to NYC post college to try his hand at acting. 

He loved attending Broadway shows especially musicals, such as his favorite show “West Side Story.” He enjoyed watching old movies, collecting Broadway cast albums and movie soundtracks, playing and watching golf, political shows and Red Sox games. In retirement, Jay enjoyed spending time with his wife and traveling the world. Together they visited six continents and 70 countries including Australia, NZ, China, Japan, Thailand, Argentina, Chile, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and most countries in W. Europe. 

In addition to his wife Laura, he is survived by his sons Kevin and Robert, daughter Sharon (from his ex-wife Carol Connolly) and four grandchildren. 

Visiting hours will be on Wednesday, August 21 from 3-7:30 and on Thursday, August 22 from 9-10 at New Comer’s Funeral Home with service and burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Jay’s name be made to either the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly the Actor’s Fund) at entertainmentcommunity.org or the American Film Institute at afl.com. 

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