Paul Rilling

R.I.P.

Paul was involved with WRTI-AM from fall 1965 until Spring of 1967 and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in Music Education. He's been working at WHYY since in 1992 in the Member Outreach department. He's one of those guys that call you to remind you that your membership is up for renewal.

Paul has asked us to supply you with the following information:
TALL PAUL RILLING
5830 WEYMOUTH STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19120-1147
E MAIL: WA3HIT@webtv.net.
(215)722-3540 - HOME
(215)351-9600 - WHYY MEMBER OUTREACH

The following is an e-mail from Paul Rilling to Gerry Wilkinson...I started at WRTI in 1965. When I left in 1967, I had just entered the world of ham radio. I still operate station WA3HIT.

In 1974, I met Betty Lou Kibler of Boston at the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind in Little Rock. We were married in 1976. Betty has a Seeing Eye Dog; a yellow lab named Cindy. Our son, Michael, was born in 1990.

In 1992 I joined the WHYY staff in the Member Outreach Department. I am still there. Betty is a Social Worker for DHS. Mike is taking Karate lessons twice a week at Tiger Schulmann's Karate.

The following originally appeared as the top story on the WRTI Old Gang Front Page and was written by Gerry Wilkinson...Paul Rilling was graduated from Temple University with a BS in Music Education in 1968. Nicknamed "Tall Paul" after the Annette record of the same name, he was involved with both WRTI AM & FM during his collegiate years. He was the newscaster on a show Gerry Wilkinson produced called, "IMPACT." The program was similar to the old NBC Monitor program. Known for his sense of humor and friendliness, Tall Paul also wrote news for FM broadcasts and hosted a show entitled, "The Treasure Chest."

His ham radio operation, WA3HIT went on the air January 26, 1967. Paul was a member of Courage Handihams, the Quarter Century Wireless Association, the Mt. Airy VHF Radio Club, and the Philadelphia and Warrington Amateur Repeater Association.

In 1974, Paul met Betty Lou Kibler of Boston at the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind in Little Rock. They were married two years later with son Michael being born in March of 1990. Betty has a seeing eye dog, a three-year old yellow lab named Cindy. His wife is a social worker for the City of Philadelphia and works with Gerry Wilkinson's wife, Michele.

Starting at WHYY in 1992 in the Member Outreach Department, he remained a main-stay there until his death on Monday, January 25, 1999. Art Karson of the station said in an e-mail to the staff, "All of us at Member Outreach will remember Paul as a warm, witty and caring person."

Born on September 30, 1944, Paul was a member of Phi Mu Alpha and Rho Upsalon. Active in his church, he served several years as President of the Men's Committee and was on the Administrative Board of the Crescentvillie Methodist Church. He was also active in the Lawncrest Fourth of July Committee.

In 1987, Tall Paul was the MC of the Variety Club's Telethon. In 1998, Paul and wife Betty appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon. It was their 15th year on the broadcast.

Michele Wilkinson reports that at her job (where Paul's wife works), the word is that Paul had cancer. Betty said a week before his death that she needed to take some time off as her husband needed some treatment.

Paul Rilling's Funeral was held on Friday, January 29. Viewing was at 10 AM. Service at 11 at:

DePinto Funeral Home
5720 Rising Sun Avenue
Philadelphia, PA

Tall Paul will never be FAR, FAR AWAY from our thoughts and memories. The width of his smile was only surpassed by the warmth of his heart.

Thh following was written by Art Karson, the head of the WHYY Member Outreach and appeared on the in-house intranet system for WHYY...We said goodbye to Paul today. His family stated over and over again how grateful they were that so many of us from WHYY attended the funeral. We also heard many times how important WHYY was to Paul. His wife, Betty, was so very grateful for the very generous donation made possible by so many of you. Betty was especially affected by the presence of Bill Marrazzo. In a gentle, understated way, he gave great comfort to someone who needed it. I heard her say to Bill (and she was very right) how proud Paul would have been to know our President paid him his respects.

All in all, it was a very moving day.

One last thing (and this says volumes about our good friend Paul). At the bottom of the Memorial handed out to all attendees, there are two organizations listed as being suitable for gifts in Paul's memory. One was to his church. The other was to WHYY.

Paul indeed was a very special friend to WHYY. May he rest in peace.

This is the WRTI Old Gang Web Site