WNIR 100.1 FM talk show host Tom Erickson dies from long-fought illness

AKRON, Ohio - WNIR 100.1 FM talk show host Tom Erickson died Saturday, after battling a serious infection, according to his family.

Erickson's daughter, Heather Nagel, told the Beacon Journal her father suffered from peritonitis, a serious infection that ruined his stomach and spread throughout his body, making it nearly impossible for him to eat and drink.

June 5, was the last day Erickson was on-air for "The Talk of Akron," as he took a medical leave of absence to battle the illness. It was around the same time fellow local radio icon Howie Chizek died of a heart attack.

Erickson spent more than 30 years working as a radio and TV news reporter before becoming a talk show host in 2001. WNIR said Erickson loved everything extra-terrestrial, and would keep listeners up to date on the latest news involving America's space program, seasoning the conversations of his nightly talk show with informative, humorous and at times, bizarre topics.

Erickson devoted much of his spare time to the cause of finding homes for abandoned dogs and cats. He was a devoted, unabashed faithful fan and follower of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Erickson died Saturday, Nov. 3 at the age of 58.