In Memory of Kevin Hoverstad

WAER staff and volunteers were saddened by the news of the passing of Kevin Hoverstad.
Kevin has volunteered at WAER for 20 years.
He has been the host of Sunday's New Age Morning since 1985.
We will all miss him and his music.

Tribute to Kevin Aired Friday, 2/4/05 Length 7:14 Produced by Chris Bolt (Audio is mp3 format)

Tribute to Kevin "New Age Morning" (Hour 3) Aired 2/13/05 Length 54:18 Hosted by Scott Willis (Audio is mp3 format)

January 2002

Volunteering: Endless Opportunities and Rewards

In the late 70's when I attended Fayetteville-Manlius high school, my radio dial was set on FM88 (now of course, Jazz88). It was the only station in the Central New York area that featured my definition of great music and where I first heard Pat Metheny, my all time favorite jazz artist. My loyalty to FM88 continued for the next seven years while I attended Syracuse University and completed a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology and a master's degree in counseling. When I graduated from SU, I heard an announcement that FM88 needed volunteers. I attended a meeting and met the program director, Felicia Otero. Within a few weeks, I completed the training and joined the volunteer on-air team.

I volunteered to take various shifts throughout the week and mainly played a mixture of jazz. In addition, I had the freedom to select my musical preferences. Felicia noticed that I preferred New Age music and asked me if I would like to host a New Age show on Sunday mornings. I jumped at the chance and New Age Morning first aired in the summer of 1985.

I have often been asked why I became a volunteer. First of all, I have had wonderful role models. My mother, Helen, has volunteered at Community General Hospital since 1972 when we moved from Minnesota to Manlius. My father, Herb, has always volunteered his time for various organizations for as long as I can remember. In addition, I decided to become a DJ, because it was totally different from my position as Dean of Academic Administration at Bryant & Stratton's Liverpool campus. Even though it meant not sleeping in on Sunday mornings, hosting my own three-hour radio show and playing my favorite music was never work for me.

Why am I such a strong proponent for giving back to the Community? I cannot begin to express how it feels when I am alone in the station, playing my favorite music and hoping that my listeners are enjoying the experience as much as I am. Magic happens when a listener calls and says, "Wow, great show...I really like the music you are playing today." Or that time during a fundraiser, a listener called in and stated that after listening to the show for a few months she began attending church. Then, perhaps the most memorable time was when a listener told me that he really enjoyed listening to "Prayer of the Children" and he wanted to buy the music for his funeral. When I learned that he had very little time to live, I was unable to go on the air for the next 20 minutes as I was so overwhelmed. It was and still is incredible that by simply volunteering for three hours a week I am able to move someone emotionally and touch his or her life. It also makes me recall these words from my Aunt Mary: "In volunteering, we always seem to get back much more than we give."

What can you do? The possibilities are endless. First, think about something that you enjoy doing but never had the opportunity to pursue. For example, I always thought that spending time in retirement communities or nursing homes would be tremendously rewarding. My friend, Josh, plays piano and sings at several local nursing homes. It is truly a blessing to watch the residents' faces light up as they sing along and enjoy Josh's performance. We all have many skills and talents to share or we have the desire to learn new skills. I played the trombone from the fifth through twelfth grade. Then I bought a drum set and played in a band for ten years. When I first began at FM88, I didn't know anything about radio, but I loved music and wanted to share this love with others.

Recently, I read Jim Brickman's book, Simple Things, which I highly recommend as well as his CD. Jim's book is about all the simple things in life that we seem to miss as we speed by in our daily work-eat-sleep routine. I lived the routine for many years. However, this past year I've found that life is not a race. The first one to the finish line is not the winner. To borrow a quote from Jim's book:

"I've learned to appreciate what my grandmother told me when I was younger, which was simple. When you were born, your life is like an empty vase. All your life people put flowers in your vase. You should give the flowers back because you don't want to leave this earth with your vase full." -Irma P. Hall

I guess I should tell you a bit about my journey this past year and a half. Many of you have noticed that I have not been on the air as often as before. In August 2000 I drove to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where I was diagnosed with a rare lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. Various doctors told me that I had about two years to live. My only hope was a lung transplant but the doctors doubted I would live that long. I was put on oxygen 24 hours a day and advised to leave my job. In October 2001 I spent a month in the hospital. My leg swelled and blood clots traveled into my lungs. God guided my doctors who helped me survive a near-death experience. Finally in March 2001 I was listed for a lung transplant in Philadelphia. I have been told that due to the lack of donors, I will probably have to wait at least two years before a pair of lungs will be available. Now my job is to stay healthy.

From the first day that I learned about my illness, I have had difficulty adjusting to no longer being able to continue my career in education. Unfortunately, today one's identity and worth is linked with the answer to "What do you do for a living?" Being stripped of that huge part of one's life is an incredible adjustment. Now I know why some people have such a hard time adjusting to retirement. However, with a lot of help from my family and friends, I think I am finally at peace with just being Kevin the loving son, brother, uncle and friend.

If you are considering volunteering, do not listen to that inner voice say, "I'm too busy now. I'll volunteer when I have some free time." Life's journey is filled with twists and turns and you may have other obstacles to hurdle when that free time is available. I strongly urge you to volunteer now - the opportunities and rewards are endless. To borrow a story from Jim Brickman's book:

"Ordinary miracles are all around us, they're humbling in their simplicity. I remember a few years ago, my grandmother Gert called me and asked if I could come play the piano for her friends in her nursing home in Chicago. She'd told all her cronies about her grandson James, the crazy musician. Her fondest wish was that I could perform for them. To be honest, I was in Chicago for one day for a concert. I had a jam-packed schedule of radio-station appearances and interviews. Everyone was advising me to do the nursing-home show another time. We'd get to it later. But something in my gut told me I had to do it...my grandmother was beaming with pride. James was her boy, and he was playing for her friends. Two days later, my grandmother died."

I am often asked why I have continued doing the show over the last 16 years and especially why I continued to volunteer when I became ill. I volunteer my time because I want to give back to my Community something that makes a difference. Many of my listeners have called me over the years and expressed how much they enjoy and look forward to Sunday mornings. For some, New Age Morning is a weekly ritual along with coffee and the Sunday paper and that is why I enjoy volunteering my time.

We are all blessed with many gifts. It is our job to share them with others. Volunteering is a wonderful vehicle. So, if over the years I have touched you emotionally or made you smile when you have listened to New Age Morning, I want you to know that it has been worth every second of my time. Please do me a favor and pass on the gift that I've shared with you. I guarantee that it is through giving that we find riches.