Tim A Drayer (abt. 1961 - 1987)

Ancestors

Died Sep 1987 at about age 26 in Lewes, Sussex, Delaware, United States

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Biography

Tim A. Drayer, 26, of 543-B Bridge St., New Cumberland, died Monday at the BeeBe Hospital, Lewes, Del.

He was the assistant program director/music director and air personality for WHTF-FM, Starview 92 Radio Station, York. He was a 1979 graduate of Central Dauphin High School.

Surviving are his mother, Paula J. ; his father, William L.; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Foringer; his paternal grandmother, Miriam Drayer of Camp Hill; and several aunts, uncles and cousins^[1]

Local broadcasting last week had the unfortunate task of saying goodbye to Tim Drayer, assistant program director, music director and evening disc jockey on WHTF-FM Starview 92.7.

Drayer, 26, died Monday of brain death brought on by an upper airway obstruction, according to Susan Peterson, spokeswoman for the Beebe Hospital in Lewes, Del. Drayer spent two weeks in a coma in the hospital after influenza caused swelling in his windpipe, the spokeswoman said.

Drayer was vacationing when the influenza brought on a throat infection that caused breathing difficulties. He was admitted to the emergency room at the Beebe Hospital in Lewes early Sept. 1. A station spokesman said Drayer stopped breathing shortly after arriving at the hospital and lost consciousness. Peterson said his throat had swollen shut, and an emergency tracheotomy was performed.

Drayer, however, had lapsed into a coma and never regained consciousness. While he was comatose, Drayer was plagued with complications, including high fever, cardiac arrest and kidney trouble. Peterson said the doctors and nurses at the hospital performed several brain tests, and Drayer was declared brain dead. He was taken off life support equipment Monday, and pronounced dead by a physician, the spokeswoman said.

Ironically, his time of death was 6 p.m., which would have been the start of his air shift.

Afternoon drive time DJ Dave Powers announced Drayer's death on the air Tuesday at 6 p.m., and, with his voice cracking, said the station would observe three minutes of silence.

When the station returned to the air, Powers played "The Man" from The Eagles' "On the Border" album, and filled the rest of the hour with music by Drayer's favorite band, Steely Dan.

The station has started a scholarship in his honor, the Tim Drayer Scholarship Fund, to benefit minority communications majors at York College of Pennsylvania.

Drayer began his career in broadcasting when he was 19, and has worked at WFEC and WTPA during its rock days. He had been with WHTF since Spring 1985.

He will be missed.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the York College-Tim Drayer Scholarship Fund, care of WHTF-FM Starview 92, RD 4, Box 312-B, York 17404.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA) - Wednesday, September 16, 1987
2. ↑ Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA) - Sunday, September 20, 1987