Frank Fixaris
Encyclopedia
Frank Fixaris was an American
sportscaster
, anchor, and reporter, spending the majority of his career at WGME-TV
http://sports.mainetoday.com/local/stories/050123fixaris.shtml in Portland
, Maine
. He also co-hosted a morning radio show on WJAB http://thephoenix.com/Portland/News/1881-Frank-Fixaris-1934-2006/ after his television run.
Fixaris attended college in Boston
, Massachusetts
and graduated from Emerson College
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-104665082.html in 1956. He then worked at several radio stations early in his career before taking the job as a sports anchor at WGME in 1965 (then WGAN
) and continued there until 1995. He served as sports director there from 1967 until 1992. Coincidentally Fixaris' cousin
, former Major League Baseball
player Jimmy Piersall
, also worked as a sportscaster.
He was the color commentator of the Maine Mariners
http://www.sportscasters.info/f/Frank_Fixaris.htm, and later the Portland Pirates
of the American Hockey League
. Although offered several network positions (particularly with CBS
, as well as the New York Islanders
), he chose to remain in Maine. He was co-awarded one of the James H. Ellery Memorial Awards
by the AHL for his outstanding work in 1978. In honor of his many years of work with the Mariners/Pirates, the press box at the Cumberland County Civic Center
http://www.sportingsights.com/ice-hockey/cumberland-county-civic-center-portland-pirates/ bears his name as a memorial tribute. Fixaris is also remembered annually with an award in his name issued by the Portland Fire Department, as well as two scholarships for students studying communication science at Saint Joseph's College of Maine
http://www.sjcme.edu/news/FrankFixarisMemorialEndowment071106.php.
The Fix Cup http://www.sjcme.edu/news/FixCupHockeyTournament010807.php, a former annual high school hockey tournament in Portland (modeled after the Beanpot tournament), was named after Fixaris.
He was known as having an encyclopedic knowledge of all things sports, especially at the local level. Popular broadcasters Mike Emrick
, Dale Arnold
, Tom Caron
, Scott Wykoff and J.J. Jeffrey considered him as being instrumental in their development.
Fixaris died in a fire at his home on January 13, 2006. His wife, Barbara, escaped the fire. Fixaris had been involved in another fire 45 years prior that had killed a roommate and left him with severe burns. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery
in Portland, Maine
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, anchor, and reporter, spending the majority of his career at WGME-TV
WGME-TV
WGME-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire that is licensed to Portland. The station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 38 from a transmitter on Brown Hill west of Raymond...
http://sports.mainetoday.com/local/stories/050123fixaris.shtml in Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. He also co-hosted a morning radio show on WJAB http://thephoenix.com/Portland/News/1881-Frank-Fixaris-1934-2006/ after his television run.
Fixaris attended college in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and graduated from Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-104665082.html in 1956. He then worked at several radio stations early in his career before taking the job as a sports anchor at WGME in 1965 (then WGAN
WGAN
WGAN is an American AM radio station licensed to Portland, Maine and owned by Saga Communications. It is located at 560 on the AM band. The current format is News/Talk, with local news being provided by a small local staff and national news provided by CBS and CNN Radio.The station was founded in...
) and continued there until 1995. He served as sports director there from 1967 until 1992. Coincidentally Fixaris' cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
, former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Jimmy Piersall
Jimmy Piersall
James Anthony Piersall is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. Between 1950 and 1967, he played for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , New York Mets , and Los Angeles/California Angels .While he had a fairly good professional career as a center...
, also worked as a sportscaster.
He was the color commentator of the Maine Mariners
Maine Mariners
The Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, USA at the Cumberland County Civic Center.-History:...
http://www.sportscasters.info/f/Frank_Fixaris.htm, and later the Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. Although offered several network positions (particularly with CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, as well as the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
), he chose to remain in Maine. He was co-awarded one of the James H. Ellery Memorial Awards
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards
The James H. Ellery Memorial Awards are presented annually to the individuals of the news media for outstanding media coverage of the American Hockey League. The awards honor the late James Ellery, former publicity director for the AHL. The first award was handed out to one individual in 1965...
by the AHL for his outstanding work in 1978. In honor of his many years of work with the Mariners/Pirates, the press box at the Cumberland County Civic Center
Cumberland County Civic Center
The Cumberland County Civic Center is a 6,733-seat multi-purpose arena, in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of $8 million, it is home to the Portland Pirates ice hockey team, various trade shows and the Maine Principals' Association high school basketball tournament...
http://www.sportingsights.com/ice-hockey/cumberland-county-civic-center-portland-pirates/ bears his name as a memorial tribute. Fixaris is also remembered annually with an award in his name issued by the Portland Fire Department, as well as two scholarships for students studying communication science at Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is a Catholic liberal arts college in Standish, Maine that grants bachelor's degrees in a traditional on-campus setting, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees via online education. The college’s campus in southern Maine is located on the shores of Sebago Lake,...
http://www.sjcme.edu/news/FrankFixarisMemorialEndowment071106.php.
The Fix Cup http://www.sjcme.edu/news/FixCupHockeyTournament010807.php, a former annual high school hockey tournament in Portland (modeled after the Beanpot tournament), was named after Fixaris.
He was known as having an encyclopedic knowledge of all things sports, especially at the local level. Popular broadcasters Mike Emrick
Mike Emrick
Michael "Doc" Emrick, is an American sports commentator noted mostly for his work in ice hockey. Emrick is currently the lead announcer for NHL national telecasts on both NBC and Versus...
, Dale Arnold
Dale Arnold
Dale Arnold is a New England sportscaster who hosts Boston Bruins broadcasts on NESN. He is formerly the co-host of a popular midday sports talk radio show on WEEI and formerly the Bruins' play-by-play announcer on NESN...
, Tom Caron
Tom Caron
Tom Caron is a sportscaster and anchor on New England's NESN network.-Background:Caron is a graduate of Lewiston High School in Maine and Saint Michael's College in Vermont, where he majored in journalism....
, Scott Wykoff and J.J. Jeffrey considered him as being instrumental in their development.
Fixaris died in a fire at his home on January 13, 2006. His wife, Barbara, escaped the fire. Fixaris had been involved in another fire 45 years prior that had killed a roommate and left him with severe burns. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
Evergreen Cemetery is a garden style cemetery in Portland, Maine, United States. With of land, it is the second largest cemetery in the state. It was established in 1855 and became the city's main cemetery after the Western Cemetery. As of March 2011, only of the were used for cemetery-related...
in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.