Richard G. Rakovan

Richard George Rakovan (Dick; Rackets; Max) passed away peacefully with his wife of 60 years, Cyndie, and daughter, Nancy, by his side on Monday, May 16, 2022. He was 83 years old.

Born Sep. 26, 1938 in Elyria, Ohio to George Edward and Mary (Muir) Rakovan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Leonard and Margaret Janicke, and son-in-law Nathanial F. Davis.

He leaves behind his loving wife Cyndie Ann (Janicke) Rakovan, brother Larry Rakovan (of Brunswick, ME), children John Rakovan (Monica Tsang Rakovan), Susan Davis, Tim Rakovan (Martha Woods) and Nancy Thompson, and grandchildren Molly & Maggie Davis, Sophia Rakovan, Abby and Charlotte Thompson.

Dick began his long-time broadcasting career as a salesman with Capital Cities’-owned WKBW AM in Buffalo, New York only to be promoted to sales and general management positions with Capital Cities’ stations in New York, Detroit and Providence, RI. During his time in Rhode Island as GM of WPRO FM & AM, Dick was appointed the honorary title of Rhode Island Commodore, by the Governor.

He left a 20-year career with Capital Cities to join Providence-based Outlet Broadcasting. He would first step foot in Illinois in the mid-eighties when he returned to station management via RKO’s WFYR-FM, Chicago. Later he was based there as the Radio Association of Broadcasters vice president for membership. Though most of his career in radio broadcasting was in sales, management, and industry representation he occasionally went on air under the alias E-tinky-halloway.

In 2016 the Illinois Broadcasters Association board of directors awarded its fourth-ever Lifetime Achievement Award  to Dick for his illustrious career in Radio broadcasting.

Dick was beloved by his family and so many friends in the radio broadcasting community who knew him as a unifying force in the industry.

A mass will be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church, on the corner of West Terra Cotta Ave. and Oak St., in Crystal Lake Illinois at 10 am on Thursday, May 26, 2022.

In lieu of flowers we are asking that people give to a cause that was very close to Dick’s heart; a GoFundMe fundraiser has been setup at https://gofund.me/32dcd222 (Clean drinking water for Sri Lankan Village).