The late Les Sarnoff was honored with the Ernest Swigert Lifetime Achievement Award. Sarnoff had a remarkable radio career spanning two decades. Thousands of Portlanders woke to his voice every day while he hosted KINK-fm’s morning broadcast. He talked about OHS frequently on his radio show, and he hosted the annual OHS Telethon nine years in a row. Les also served on the OHS Board of Trustees for five years and was a Community Ambassador for OHS until he passed away last spring after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Joseph Palanuk accepts the award on behalf of the Les Sarnoff Foundation.

Board Members Joseph Palanuk, Peggy La Point, Nancy Kelly and Barbara Baugnon.

The Portland Music Awards is a Grammy-style awards show celebrating the best of the Portland Music scene. They honor artists, musicians, venues, record stores, and the like.

The awards, presented February 11, honor Oregon animals who have acted to save a human or animal life in peril, who have performed services within the community with undying loyalty, or who have overcome incredible odds in order to survive. Winners can also be humans who have had a positive impact on the lives of animals, exhibiting courage and compassion in the pursuit of animals’ well-being in Oregon. The OHS Heroes Luncheon presenting the Diamond Collar Awards will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at the Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205 11:30 am – 1 pm.

If you are interested in more information about the event, please see…
http://www.oregonhumane.org/news/stories/Heroes.asp

Joe Palanuk
President

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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I believe our friendship was based on mutual respect and caring about each other and our family.  When my husband was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, Les and Rita was there with lots of love and support.  When I lost my kid sister to colon cancer, Les and Rita were again pillars of support as I went through a terrible grieving process. 

To know Les was to love Les.  He never said no to anything that my clients needed, he was a joy to work with, and we shared many client-friends who always knew he would give their needs top priority which he always did.  Les was not the run-of-the-mill radio personality, he was a happy, kind, considerate co-worker and the utmost professional in his dealings with me and my clients. 

I believe one of the highlights of my life at KINK over the 15 years was my friendship with this wonderful man who gave of himself unselfishly.  Both Don and I loved Les and Rita …. his death was a deep loss to both of us.

~ Shelly Lurie

I had the pleasure of working with Les off and on (mostly on) for nearly 20 years. He was always already at the station when I arrived in the wee hours of the morning, drawing on newspapers, internet, TV, any source he could find, to put funny, interesting, or necessary information on the air, waking everybody up with his velvet voice. He did more good than you can imagine—always saying yes whenever anybody asked him to mention something on the air, or emcee their event.

It is impossible to estimate the impact he had on our community—as a radio DJ, event host, fundraiser for worthy causes, son, brother, husband, friend. From daily Morning Show adventures, running Hood-to-Coast, and reporting on poverty from the Dominican Republic, Les made it easy to be a partner in any experience. He could always find the silver lining, see a way to get over the hurdle, or think up a compromise in a tricky situation.

If each of us can keep a nugget of that “Les attitude,” we can continue his influence in the world around Portland. He’s not really gone when we keep his spirit alive.

Rita, you are in my heart.

~ Rebecca