Simon Pontin, host of "The Sunshine Show" and "Salmagundy" retires

Simon,
The Best to you in your Retirement. I am certain I will be going into Simon withdrawal since your
voice has been in my house for 30 years. You have been a comfort and an inspiration to me each
day. You are One of a Kind and I thank you for that. Sincerely, Jane Ellen Bailey

Thank you Simon for the many mornings of music. We seem to live in a time when radio morning formats are intended to grab your attention and sensationalize. I have always enjoyed starting my day in a more relaxed and uplifting way. Thank you for your thoughtful voice and approach to radio broadcasting. I will miss hearing your voice each morning. Best of luck to you!!

Best Regards,

Nate Ruder
Fairport, NY

Simon,

So when I left the WXXI-FM morning show in 1976, I had no idea that that old guy who replaced me would end up staying for 33 years. I feel like that baseball player who took a day off.....Lou Gehrig replaced him and set the all-time record for consecutive games played. I can't remember his name, just as no one remembers mine.

Congratulations, old friend. Enjoy your retirement!

Tom Teuber
Madison, WI

Dear Simon,

My mom told me that the first time I met you was at a fund raising picnic for WXXI. At the ripe young age of three I took charge of our picnic, bringing all things necessary: a checkered blanket, my tea set, Winnie The Pooh, other various stuffed animals, and a jar of huny (spelled huny because it was for Pooh, of course). Amid the fields of elegant Pittsford picnic set ups, you came by to judge me. My mom introduced us and said, “Amanda, this is Simon from the radio.” There was no introduction needed. I knew exactly who you were.

You are a voice that I have known my whole life. I knew the number for your pledge drives (four-five-four-sixty-three-hundred) before I knew my own. Your birds at 6am chirped me through my adolescent years. Your fondness for Beethoven and show tunes is what makes us kindred spirits. Your music choice is impeccable. I love the stories you tell and the way you always know how to play the perfect medley of songs to get me through the day.

I always had a secret hope that you would be eternal because it is hard to imagine WXXI, my morning commutes, or Saturday morning without you. Still, there is a part of me that knew this day would come. I wish you as wonderful a retirement as all of the wonderful years of music you have given me.

Sincerely,
Amanda

BAWL! First Mordecai, now Simon. I love Brenda, too but there is no getting around the fact that Simon has been for me, as well as for so many others, the 'face' and spirit of XXI for a looonnnngg time. It had to happen, I know, but surely there will be an echoing void in listeners' lives now. There is no other FM station that has had- and will continue to have-this precious sense of person-hood that this one has had all the many years I have listened- as a member, by the way. I have no funny incidents to recall- just the delight of sensing a sharp, witty mind at the other end of the line all these years, a real western NYer, a real, not stuffed (or stuffy) person. You have other wonderful persons on board, thankfully, so keep up the good work of being "real" and please stencil Simon's name over his window and retire his chair to the Smithsonian or something! He deserves his retirement but should never forget how much he will be missed! Fondly- Susan

Simon,

It will not be the same without you. When I first moved to Rochester, I was not hooked on
classical music. My sister loved 'XXI and your shows in particular. I remember volunteering a few
times during Selmagaundy and quickly became a fan. My sister always said you carried her through some difficult times; she was right because you were there to lift my spirits when she died.

I even loved the fund drives, and the idea of "Cat stew" when one had too many cats! Simon, you know there is no such thing as too many pets, be they dogs or cats.

I want to wish you the best, a long and healthy retirement and the blessing and peace of the
Lord be on you always.

Sincerely, Pat Curry

i've been a fan of yours since we moved to this area in1965. Thank you for your wonderful humor, your interest in music and your accent is always refreshing. Your Saturday programing was interesting and brought smiles to my face. i am going to truly miss you.
May your retirement be as blessed as mine has been and busy also. To be busy is a wonderful position to be in. It keeps the goblins at bay and lets all the wonderful happenings come your way.
Blessings. martha

It was extraordinary listening to you every morning... you will leave a void that will be hard to be filled. Rochester mornings won’t be the same without you. I am sad to hear that you are leaving... but I wish you all the best. I have listened to many classical radios in other places, but have not found anything like your show! Cheerios my friend! You deserve all the best... Thanks for everything!

From your choice of silly songs and stunning symphonies
From your stellar knowledge of classical and not so classical music to your always sunny voice
For your brightening my mornings for the past 21 years
Thanks!

Enjoy your well earned and deserved retirement. I hope to still hear Salmagundy every once in a while. I will miss your morning cheer. Peace

Dan Dwyer

I was the midday announcer and music director for WXXI in the 1980's, and had the privilege of working alongside Simon, public radio's finest announcer. I am also proud to count him as a treasured friend for all these many years. The following echoes and reinforces former Radio Manager John Proffitt's justified praise.
Simon has always been my broadcasting hero and mentor. To me, he is quite simply the best announcer I have ever heard. Over the years, I've listened to scores of announcers and always come back to that conviction. When I came to WXXI in 1980 as a very green and mistake-prone announcer, he gently guided me through his example of integrity and professionalism. And when I would compliment him, he would always brush it aside with characteristic humility. This is what Simon taught above all: Always be yourself on the radio. Being a young buck fresh out of SUNY Geneseo, I didn't really have a clear sense of identity. But I worked through that with Simon's powerful inspiration giving strength and vision. In broadcasting there are always so many wanting to change or mold you into something you are not. Thanks to Simon I stayed true to myself and so was able to make 'real radio'. He is a GIANT and the best there has ever been!
Congratulations, Simon, on a remarkable career and may you have a wonderful retirement!
Your friend always,
Dave

Best wishes on the start of your new career, Simon!

Here's hoping it will be at least as unique as your time behind the microphone!

Glenn Call

I'm surprised by my sentimental feelings about your retirement. I don't know you. You're the just voice on the radio.

But for decades, through mornings grabbing a quick bowl of cereal as a teenager before school, making coffee in my first apartment, the relief of hearing the "birds" after a sleepless night with a sick baby, the calm voice as a soft song of sanity behind the order to "brush your teeth!" and "pack your backpack!"...the morning I sat on my kitchen floor, learning my grandmather had died, and you were there.

You don't know me, but you've been my friend for most of my life. Steady and reliable, entertaining and charming, calming and steadfast.

My children, now teenagers, are listening to the last Salmagundy as I write...I didn't tell them to.
We have your bobble-head. It broke, but it will sit next to our kitchen radio. Henry, my youngest, was teary when it broke yesterday...I guess you're their friend, too.

Thank you. Thank you, Thank you.
Carin Ash

Each of Simons' fans has a special attachment to his radio broadcasts, this is mine.

As a young child in the 1950s I remember visiting my father as he worked during the summers in the hot and cramped radio studio of a small sunrise to sunset AM station in the Midwest. He had great pride as a rebel in his end-of-day show "Jerry the Janitor" playing jazz and pop tunes on a country western station. At a small midwestern college he was professor of speech and radio broadcasting, running the campus radio station and trying to educate students in the promise of radio.

Everyone in my family except me had training and/or careers in classical and jazz music. "Any music regardless of genre that is well written and performed is good" was my father's credo. He also prized his Spike Jones record collection, stating that "you have to be a good musician to play that crazy". Needless to say I formed an immediate attachment to Simon's offerings on WXXI radio in particular Salmagundy and the Citrus Hour. His style, wit, humor and programming selections remind me so much of my father's radio broadcasts. Simon's efforts and achievements are that of my fathers' dreams, fortunately coming to fruition for the pleasure and benefit of the Rochester area community.

Because of a busy Saturday schedule in recent years I often recorded Simon's shows to time-shift to a more convenient time of day for listening. I still have a few of those recordings and will prize them for years to come. At this moment I am recording his final show to add to that small collection.

As a busy retiree I welcome Simon to retirement; hopefully, he will find the same satisfaction in the pursuit of interests that I have found. Best wishes and luck to you, Simon, in years to come.

A grateful listener,

Greg Lawrence
WXXI Member