Jess Dennis Daniel Cain
Of Boston; AM radio personality legend died Thursday, February 14, at home at the age of 81. Jess is survived by his wife, Jean (Sunstrom) Cain of Boston; his daughter, Amy Cain of Somerville; his three sons, Jesse D.D. Cain III of New Boston, NH, Michael Cain of Weymouth, and Kevin Cain of Martha's Vineyard; two sisters, Eileen Haeber and Dolores Adams, both of Philadelphia, PA; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10a.m. on Feb. 23 in Glastonbury Abbey, 16 Hull St., Hingham, MA.
Contributions in memory of Jess Dennis Daniel Cain may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, ATTN: Contribution Services. Boston Harborside Home J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring-Langone 617-536-4110
Published in the Boston Globe on 2/16/2008.
Jess Cain
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Jess Cain, the legendary Boston radio personality famous for song parodies such as "Fly Me to Metheun" and "The Yaz Song," died early this morning at his home in Beacon Hill.
The 81-year-old died at 5 a.m. after a long battle with cancer, said his son, Michael Cain.
Cain held court weekday mornings on the defunct WHDH 850-AM (now WEEI) for 33 years before retiring in 1991. He was "funny but classy," Michael Cain said. "He didn't have to stoop to innuendos to make people laugh.
"He was like an uncle to his listeners," Michael Cain said. "I just loved the look on people's faces when they said, ‘I used to listen to your father.'"
"The Yaz Song," an ode to Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, experienced a recent surge in popularity after it was featured in the movie "Fever Pitch." The song was inspired by the Sox' 1967 Impossible Dream season. To listen to "The Yaz Song," click here.
Born and raised in northeast Philadelphia, Cain took to the airwaves at WHDH in 1958, broadcasting from a studio at the top of the Prudential building. He and his longtime engineer, John "Pudge" Flynn, created limericks and sound effects that made for a kind of radio-vaudeville and songs such as "April in Natick."
For 33 years, Cain awoke at 3 a.m. and had to be alert and funny by 5 a.m. Before his retirement in April 1991, he talked to the Globe about life after radio.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Cain said. "But I fear how I'm going to handle it -- I'm a guy who cries at traffic lights."
He dabbled in acting, a passion he developed in college. Cain performed on Broadway and in plays with the North Shore Theater.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer 13 years ago, but remained in good health until last spring. Cain is survived by his wife, Jean Cain, four children, three grand children, and two sisters.
There will be no wake or funeral, said Michael Cain. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Of Boston; AM radio personality legend died Thursday, February 14, at home at the age of 81. Jess is survived by his wife, Jean (Sunstrom) Cain of Boston; his daughter, Amy Cain of Somerville; his three sons, Jesse D.D. Cain III of New Boston, NH, Michael Cain of Weymouth, and Kevin Cain of Martha's Vineyard; two sisters, Eileen Haeber and Dolores Adams, both of Philadelphia, PA; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10a.m. on Feb. 23 in Glastonbury Abbey, 16 Hull St., Hingham, MA.
Contributions in memory of Jess Dennis Daniel Cain may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, ATTN: Contribution Services. Boston Harborside Home J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring-Langone 617-536-4110
Published in the Boston Globe on 2/16/2008.
Jess Cain
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Jess Cain, the legendary Boston radio personality famous for song parodies such as "Fly Me to Metheun" and "The Yaz Song," died early this morning at his home in Beacon Hill.
The 81-year-old died at 5 a.m. after a long battle with cancer, said his son, Michael Cain.
Cain held court weekday mornings on the defunct WHDH 850-AM (now WEEI) for 33 years before retiring in 1991. He was "funny but classy," Michael Cain said. "He didn't have to stoop to innuendos to make people laugh.
"He was like an uncle to his listeners," Michael Cain said. "I just loved the look on people's faces when they said, ‘I used to listen to your father.'"
"The Yaz Song," an ode to Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, experienced a recent surge in popularity after it was featured in the movie "Fever Pitch." The song was inspired by the Sox' 1967 Impossible Dream season. To listen to "The Yaz Song," click here.
Born and raised in northeast Philadelphia, Cain took to the airwaves at WHDH in 1958, broadcasting from a studio at the top of the Prudential building. He and his longtime engineer, John "Pudge" Flynn, created limericks and sound effects that made for a kind of radio-vaudeville and songs such as "April in Natick."
For 33 years, Cain awoke at 3 a.m. and had to be alert and funny by 5 a.m. Before his retirement in April 1991, he talked to the Globe about life after radio.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Cain said. "But I fear how I'm going to handle it -- I'm a guy who cries at traffic lights."
He dabbled in acting, a passion he developed in college. Cain performed on Broadway and in plays with the North Shore Theater.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer 13 years ago, but remained in good health until last spring. Cain is survived by his wife, Jean Cain, four children, three grand children, and two sisters.
There will be no wake or funeral, said Michael Cain. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Jess Dennis Daniel Cain
Of Boston; AM radio personality legend died Thursday, February 14, at home at the age of 81. Jess is survived by his wife, Jean (Sunstrom) Cain of Boston; his daughter, Amy Cain of Somerville; his three sons, Jesse D.D. Cain III of New Boston, NH, Michael Cain of Weymouth, and Kevin Cain of Martha's Vineyard; two sisters, Eileen Haeber and Dolores Adams, both of Philadelphia, PA; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10a.m. on Feb. 23 in Glastonbury Abbey, 16 Hull St., Hingham, MA.
Contributions in memory of Jess Dennis Daniel Cain may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, ATTN: Contribution Services. Boston Harborside Home J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring-Langone 617-536-4110
Published in the Boston Globe on 2/16/2008.
Jess Cain
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Jess Cain, the legendary Boston radio personality famous for song parodies such as "Fly Me to Metheun" and "The Yaz Song," died early this morning at his home in Beacon Hill.
The 81-year-old died at 5 a.m. after a long battle with cancer, said his son, Michael Cain.
Cain held court weekday mornings on the defunct WHDH 850-AM (now WEEI) for 33 years before retiring in 1991. He was "funny but classy," Michael Cain said. "He didn't have to stoop to innuendos to make people laugh.
"He was like an uncle to his listeners," Michael Cain said. "I just loved the look on people's faces when they said, ‘I used to listen to your father.'"
"The Yaz Song," an ode to Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, experienced a recent surge in popularity after it was featured in the movie "Fever Pitch." The song was inspired by the Sox' 1967 Impossible Dream season. To listen to "The Yaz Song," click here.
Born and raised in northeast Philadelphia, Cain took to the airwaves at WHDH in 1958, broadcasting from a studio at the top of the Prudential building. He and his longtime engineer, John "Pudge" Flynn, created limericks and sound effects that made for a kind of radio-vaudeville and songs such as "April in Natick."
For 33 years, Cain awoke at 3 a.m. and had to be alert and funny by 5 a.m. Before his retirement in April 1991, he talked to the Globe about life after radio.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Cain said. "But I fear how I'm going to handle it -- I'm a guy who cries at traffic lights."
He dabbled in acting, a passion he developed in college. Cain performed on Broadway and in plays with the North Shore Theater.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer 13 years ago, but remained in good health until last spring. Cain is survived by his wife, Jean Cain, four children, three grand children, and two sisters.
There will be no wake or funeral, said Michael Cain. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Of Boston; AM radio personality legend died Thursday, February 14, at home at the age of 81. Jess is survived by his wife, Jean (Sunstrom) Cain of Boston; his daughter, Amy Cain of Somerville; his three sons, Jesse D.D. Cain III of New Boston, NH, Michael Cain of Weymouth, and Kevin Cain of Martha's Vineyard; two sisters, Eileen Haeber and Dolores Adams, both of Philadelphia, PA; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10a.m. on Feb. 23 in Glastonbury Abbey, 16 Hull St., Hingham, MA.
Contributions in memory of Jess Dennis Daniel Cain may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, ATTN: Contribution Services. Boston Harborside Home J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring-Langone 617-536-4110
Published in the Boston Globe on 2/16/2008.
Jess Cain
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Jess Cain, the legendary Boston radio personality famous for song parodies such as "Fly Me to Metheun" and "The Yaz Song," died early this morning at his home in Beacon Hill.
The 81-year-old died at 5 a.m. after a long battle with cancer, said his son, Michael Cain.
Cain held court weekday mornings on the defunct WHDH 850-AM (now WEEI) for 33 years before retiring in 1991. He was "funny but classy," Michael Cain said. "He didn't have to stoop to innuendos to make people laugh.
"He was like an uncle to his listeners," Michael Cain said. "I just loved the look on people's faces when they said, ‘I used to listen to your father.'"
"The Yaz Song," an ode to Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, experienced a recent surge in popularity after it was featured in the movie "Fever Pitch." The song was inspired by the Sox' 1967 Impossible Dream season. To listen to "The Yaz Song," click here.
Born and raised in northeast Philadelphia, Cain took to the airwaves at WHDH in 1958, broadcasting from a studio at the top of the Prudential building. He and his longtime engineer, John "Pudge" Flynn, created limericks and sound effects that made for a kind of radio-vaudeville and songs such as "April in Natick."
For 33 years, Cain awoke at 3 a.m. and had to be alert and funny by 5 a.m. Before his retirement in April 1991, he talked to the Globe about life after radio.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Cain said. "But I fear how I'm going to handle it -- I'm a guy who cries at traffic lights."
He dabbled in acting, a passion he developed in college. Cain performed on Broadway and in plays with the North Shore Theater.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer 13 years ago, but remained in good health until last spring. Cain is survived by his wife, Jean Cain, four children, three grand children, and two sisters.
There will be no wake or funeral, said Michael Cain. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
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