Illinois-born Dan Sorkin was an irreverent morning radio star in Chicago when he got fired in the early ’60s for defending the comedy of Lenny Bruce. At the time, he was also working as announcer/sidekick on NBC’s The Bob Newhart Show.
Sorkin then moved to San Francisco to do mornings on KFRC, until KSFO hired him away to work the midday show. His career was interrupted by a serious 1968 motorcycle accident, as a result of which Dan lost a leg. He continued his popular show on KSFO for a while after the accident. He then founded a support group for amputees: Stumps R Us.
Dan was also known for his involvement with Delancey Street, considered the country’s leading residential self-help organization for substance abusers, ex-convicts and homeless people.
Sorkin loved aviation and was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flying during his life. In 1959, Dan flew around the world in 40 days in a twin-engine plane with another pilot.
Dan Sorkin passed away in 2016 at the age of 89.