Sandra Carusi, longtime Corus Toronto sales rep and host of Inside Jokes on AM 640 (CFMJ-AM), has lost her battle to breast cancer.
Carusi died Monday morning following a 2014 diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer.
She joined Corus Toronto in 1999 as an account executive for Q107 (CILQ-FM), 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM), 95.3 Fresh Radio (CING-FM), and AM640. It was while Carusi, a stand-up performer herself, was undergoing cancer treatment that she came up with the idea of hosting a talk show on the world of comedy and in 2015 became executive producer and host of Sunday evening show Inside Jokes on 640, as well as a comedy correspondent for the stations.
Over the show’s run, Carusi welcomed guests like Russell Peters, Trevor Noah, Sugar Sammy, Jessica Holmes and Scott Thompson.
Inside Jokes eventually led to Carusi producing two other shows for AM640, The Parenting Show with mommy blogger Pina Crispo, and The Dating & Relationship Show, hosted by matchmaker and relationship coach Laura Billota.
Mike Stafford, AM640 morning show co-host, delivered a very personal on-air tribute to Carusi on Aug. 14.
“Herb Tarlek from WKRP used to tell Johnny Fever ‘sales is radio and radio is sales’ and Sandra would say the same thing. She was so, so damn good at it,” said Stafford.
In his note to Corus staff, Rob Chiaramida, director of Local Sales, Ontario, said Carusi fought hard and long and stayed positive throughout.
“Sandra was a one of a kind individual and made a lasting impression on everyone she ever came in contact with. Her larger than life personality, her laugh, her rather interesting sense of humour, her kindness, loyalty and her absolute love and passion for radio is what we will remember most about Sandra. She will truly be missed,” wrote Chiaramida.
Troy Reeb, senior VP of News, Radio and Station Operations for Corus, Tweeted “Sandra Carusi told me a few months ago that it wasn’t enough to take life’s lemons and make lemonade. Laughing (as always), she said you had to ‘squeeze the living shit out of them’ to get every last drop of juice. Sandra did just that.”
