This was a cause near and dear to Les.  Here’s an article published by the Oregon Humane Society about Les and his dedication to pets.  We’ve also added in some photos of Les and his furry friends.

The OHS Telethon to End Petlessness: is a four-hour live broadcast that promises to showcase more dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, bunnies and rodents than you can wag a tail at.

The Telethon was was hosted by Sharon Harmon, OHS executive director, along with KATU news anchor Carl Click. A parade of adorable and adoptable pets was introduced by Helen Raptis, host of KATU’s AM Northwest morning show. One of them just might be for you.

Is there really a furry soulmate for every one? We believe the answer is a resounding “Yes!” OHS believes that every person can make the world a better place when they find a pet partner who lights up their life.

That’s what the campaign to End Petlessness is all about; to make the world a better place for pets in need and for people who need pets.

The telethon is the single largest fundraiser of the year and the pets need your help. Visit www.oregonhumane.org/telethon for details.

He was recognized throughout Portland as the voice of KINK-FM, one of the city’s most popular radio stations. His upbeat personality and expert knowledge of rock music made him a Portland favorite during the 22 years he served as KINK’s morning host. His broadcasts frequently included discussions of causes near to his heart, including OHS.

“Few people have done as much on a personal level for the welfare of animals as Les Sarnoff. He was sincere and true to the core in his love of pets and his concern for their protection and well being.” said OHS Executive Director Sharon Harmon. “Les was a dear friend personally and professionally and his passing is a giant loss for the animals.” said Harmon.

Sarnoff served on the OHS Board of Trustees from 1999-2004 and as a Community Ambassador from 2005 to his passing. As recently as October 2008, Sarnoff hosted the annual OHS Telethon, after being successfully treated for lung cancer that was first diagnosed in April of that year. Sarnoff was forced to take medical leave from KINK in December when doctors determined his cancer had reappeared. He died April 17, at Providence Cancer Center in Portland, Ore.

Remembrances in his honor can be made to the Oregon Humane Society, the Children’s Cancer Association, the Portland Rescue Mission, Radiant-A-Jesus Church (care of Freedom Foursquare Church, the Oregon Food Bank, and SMART.

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God Bless Les’ presence in my life, small though it was – it was huge! He woke me up for over 15 years and no other man but my husband can ever get that honor. Radio hasn’t been the same since we lost him from the morning show. Yet more than that, his influence with his activities, music, animals, charitable opportunities – what an example! I met him at different events several times and it was always fun. He brought a great deal of joy! I will so miss him, his cheerful outlook, and his practical and loving opinions on current events. How special to learn of his Christian beliefs -it isn’t entirely sad anymore.

~ Patty Richardson
Gresham, OR

One more thing my husband had a bout with cancer and I’m still afraid for his health. Les’ blog has been extremely encouraging.
Thank you.

My husband and I grew up in Portland in the 50′s and 60′s and we both loved music from day one. Rock n Roll, good Rock n Roll was our favorite. In 1968 KINK radio came to be and it immediately struck a chord with both of us. Les was the kind of DJ that just drew you in. Velvety voice yes – but more than that he had a wonderful way with words, messages, passion for music, passion for life. We’ve listened to Les all these years and he made the radio a little more magical for us – he was a beautiful person and he made such an impact on us! We will miss him!

~ Marla and Dale Miller

I got to talk to Les a few times over the winter, and though he was obviously not feeling well at the time it was cool, and inspiring, to see how much twinkle he could bring to even the most gloomy circumstances. A dark winter afternoon; a couple of hours of chemotherapy; being described as “terminal.” He shrugged it all off and looked for the glimmer of light. And usually found it, too.

The last time we spoke was so typical. I’d been trying to reach him for a week or two, leaving messages and voicemails, hoping to track down a couple more details for the story I was writing about him. Les wasn’t always the most reliable returner-of-calls (as his outgoing message made clear), but I knew he was deeper into full-blown chemotherapy, and things had gotten, as he put it, “pretty funky.” No matter, early one evening the phone rang.

“I just wanted you to know that I DO return calls every so often,” he said, by way of hello. No introduction necessary, though. No one else has Les’s voice. He knew that. So we chatted about this and that, mostly about dinner. He was about to have his, and I was headed upstairs to fix something for my family.

“What are you gonna make?” he wanted to know. “Stir fry? Great. I’ll be there in 15 minutes, okay?”

He was kidding. He wasn’t getting out much at all by then. His energy was pretty sketchy, he admitted. He slept a lot, had a hard time getting going in the morning. A strange feeling for the city’s longest-lasting morning disc jockey. But that still left the whole afternoon and evening, didn’t it?

“Last night I was rarin’ to go,” he said. “I was up til 11 o’clock, having a ball.”

Then dinner was ready, time to say goodbye. “We’ll talk again,” he said. We didn’t, but that voice sticks with me: the sound of a man still rarin’ to go, still having a ball.

I used to go on the air following Les and Rebecca and whenever it snowed they would try to surprise each other at the end of the newscast with a snowball. But each one knew it was coming (and so did the listeners!) I remember nearly driving off the road, I was laughing so hard as I was on my way to work! It was hysterical ! When I got to the studio Les would be frantically trying to clean up all the water from the melted snowballs. He knew how I hated messes, and he was apologizing and wiping up water!

I remember the many events Les emceed. I was inspired by his ease in front of big crowds because I had such terrible stage fright. Every year he emceed an annual benefit for children with cancer. One year he couldn’t make it due to a schedule conflict and he asked me to take his place. I filled in for him, but I remember feeling like I couldn’t possibly come close to his extraordinary stage presence. I asked him ahead of time if he had any advice and if he ever had fright underneath his calm demeanor in front of an audience. He said, “Oh, sure, but it goes away as soon as you start speaking and looking at all the people – they are happy to see you and want you to do well.” That helped me overcome my stage fright. I remember watching him get up in front of kids at a show at the Children’s Fair. He began by shouting, “We’re all gonna have a hootenanny!” The kids went crazy… he made everything so much fun!

It was an event called “Henry’s Handcar Derby,” sponsored by Henry Weinhard’s Beer, from a bygone era when there was a Blitz Weinhard Brewery downtown Portland. Les Sarnoff and I arrived to do our duties as co-emcees for the event. From where we were perched, high above the curb, you could look down on 100′s of “yuppies,” all wearing those large khaki shorts. From our vantage point, you could see up everyone’s shorts! I honestly tried to ignore it, but it became too much and everything I said digressed into the gutter of juvenile innuendo. Les was a perfect gentleman and tried to ignore my juvenile comments, but eventually began to chuckle at my inside jokes, unknown to anyone else.

FYI… this is what he replied to me in an email in January when I heard about his struggle and I emailed him words of encouragement:

“Please excuse the lateness of replying to your message but it’s been a bit overwhelming. I truly appreciate your thoughts, prayers and cherish them all and look forward to when I’m back on the air, sharing them all with you. There is so much kindness and love in this world, and you are an example of what a difference one person can make in another person’s life. Especially coming from a friend like you, Cindy, who I’ve admired over all these years. Much appreciated, Les.”

Cindy Hanson

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Portland, OR 97214
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Les Is More: The Essential Les Sarnoff is available for purchase on-line through the Music Millennium Website.

2. Part Two (20:53)
k.d. lang, Rebecca Webb, Norah Jones, 9/11, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Kevin Welch, Peggy LaPoint, Hurricane Katrina, John Mayer, Matt Zaffino, David Gray, The War in Iraq, Cowboy Junkies.

3. Part Three (13:28)
Paul McCartney.