Dan LeFurgey Plouffe, 70, on Feb. 27. Plouffe began his career in the mid-1960s as an on-air production operator at CKWS Radio in Kingston. He moved on to stints with VOCM St. John’s, NL and CKGM Montreal before joining CHUM Toronto. He went on to create radio syndication company, Footprint Productions, later joining Morgan Earl Sounds in Yorkville as a studio producer in 1975 where he set up a state-of-the-art production facility and team of sound engineers that collectively earned the studio more than 150 awards for its radio commercials and programs. A studio collaboration with CFTR Toronto led to Plouffe doing a stint as Promotions Manager for the station, but by 1985, he had left radio to co-found Firstcom Marketing, producing marketing, promotions, and special events for a roster of national clients. Firstcom eventually was acquired by the Young & Rubicam network of agencies. After relocating to Collingwood, ON permanently, Plouffe and his wife Julie launched online news and information site, mycollingwood.ca in 2005.
Robert “Bob-O” Ochoski, 76, on Feb. 4. Born in Sudbury, Ochoski’s broadcast career began at age 19 as an overnight operator at CKSO Radio. Two years later, he ascended to the position of CKSO AM and FM Production Manager. Ochoski left CKSO in 1980 to launch a small business with his wife Judy selling and installing mobile audio systems, including car stereos, alarm systems, and other forms of mobile communication. They eventually sold the business, with Bob working in sales for Sanyo, before returning to radio with a sales position at CHUR-AM North Bay throughout the 1980s and early ‘90s.
