Family, friends and listeners alike were mourning long-time WZEW-FM radio personality Lee Ann Camp after she lost a brief battle with a very aggressive form of cancer Monday morning.
Camp’s co-workers took to the airwaves Monday to eulogize her and share fond memories of the scrappy Michigan native who had been embraced so fondly by the area’s music lovers. Her quirky on-air personality was a pitch-perfect match for “The Zew” and its eclectic brand of local radio. Her illness only became public within the past two weeks as the cancer had already reached stage IV when discovered.
“92ZEW on-air personality Lee Ann Camp lost her battle with cancer today. She leaves behind husband Tim Camp, 15-year-old son Julian, and 12-year-old daughter Cecilia, as well as many more family and friends,” a statement from her family read.
Camp and her husband, Tim, shared their love of radio, even co-hosting “TLC in the Morning” for several years, during which they often offered bemusing looks into their personal lives. Friends described them as having “an almost fairy tale-type love.”
“It is with great heartbreak that I must inform you that this past Monday morning, the light of my life, Lee Ann, lost her battle with cancer and left us. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her family and I was at her bedside holding her hand,” Tim said in a statement Monday. “Myself, our children and our entire family thank everyone for all of the love and prayers and support you delivered to us during these most terrible weeks of pain and suffering for Lee Ann and our family. Thank you again and may God bless you all.”
Other remembrances included a statement from fellow on-air personality Gene Murrell, who wrote: “Lee Ann was more than a friend to me, she was family. We laughed, joked, argued, brainstormed and more than anything … shared a love for music and a passion for local radio. Lee Ann was the fire and bright light of this station and the community. And now that light has dimmed … There are no words to express how much she will be missed. I love you, Lee Ann.”
Matt McCoy wrote: “Lee Ann was one of the most caring and passionate people I have ever known or worked with in radio about our community. She cared about her 92ZEW family and brand, and music on both the local and national level. She may have weighed 90 pounds soaking wet with rocks in her pocket, but if you challenged her or messed with any of those above things, brother you better get ready, ’cause she was coming at you like Mel Gibson in ‘Braveheart!’”
A GoFundMe account has been set up in the Camp family’s name to help pay for funeral arrangements and final expenses.
Editor’s note: A celebration of life for Lee Ann Camp will occur this Friday, December 18th at 11 a.m. It will be held live on Facebook through the page of Padre Johnny Savoie.
The service is closed, due to COVID restrictions and safety measures, but friends are invited to tune-in at 11 on Friday.
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