Donald "Sandy Beach" N. Pesola

Buffalo radio has lost one of its most distinctive voices. Sandy Beach, one of the most recognizable and popular personalities in Buffalo broadcasting history, has died. He was 86.

His longtime talk show theme proclaimed, “He’s bigger than life and twice as loud” — an appropriate introduction for a broadcaster whose unmistakable voice, quick wit and unforgettable laugh entertained generations of Western New Yorkers. From a fast-talking disc jockey to what was once described as a “provocative and edgy talk show host,” Beach brought a distinctive sense of humor and intelligence to the airwaves. He was equally respected behind the scenes, excelling in radio management and programming as well as behind the microphone.

Beach, whose real name was Donald Pesola, died Monday, Aug. 17, following a short illness. A native of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Beach graduated from Lunenburg High School and the Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theatre in 1961.

One of his first jobs was at WSPR in Springfield, Massachusetts, where, using the name Jack Diamond, he called an ailing George Harrison at the height of Beatlemania. The call resulted in the guitarist recording a memorable promotional announcement for the Springfield AM radio station.

In January 1964, Beach joined WDRC in Hartford, Connecticut, where he quickly became one of the city’s most popular radio personalities. He was Buffalo-bound in June 1968, joining 50,000-watt powerhouse WKBW Radio and becoming an important part of KB’s legendary on-air lineup.

In a 1972 interview, WKBW Program Director Jeff Kaye said Beach had “worked every shift on KB except morning drive and improved the ratings in each part.”

Over the next three decades, Beach’s career took him in and out of Buffalo as a disc jockey, program director and, eventually, talk show host. After serving as WKBW’s program director in the early 1980s, he returned to the Buffalo airwaves with morning shows at WNYS-FM/WHTT-FM and WMJQ-FM.

In 1997, Beach joined WBEN as a talk show host, beginning what would become the longest continuous chapter of his Buffalo radio career. He spent 18 years hosting “Beach & Company” in afternoon drive before the program moved to midmorning in 2014. For 23 years, Beach was a fixture of WBEN’s talk lineup, remaining on the air until his retirement on July 30, 2020.

His career extended well beyond Buffalo. Beach worked at stations including WDRC in Hartford; WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas; KYUU in San Francisco; WJET in Erie, Pennsylvania; and WZTR in Milwaukee. He also held programming positions with NBC and Capital Cities/ABC.

Beach was a three-time nominee for Billboard magazine’s Personality of the Year and received some of broadcasting’s highest honors. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2003, recognized by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2017.

Through more than five decades in broadcasting, Sandy Beach established a rare connection with his audience. Whether spinning records, directing a radio station or debating the issues of the day, he was unmistakably Sandy — opinionated, funny, intelligent and always entertaining.

Outside radio, Beach had an intense love of cars, once claiming that he had owned more than 100 vehicles during his lifetime. During his final decade at WBEN, he escorted listeners on countless trips around the world, introducing them to many of the wonders of the United States and Europe.

He was also a proud pet parent to many beloved animals, most recently Ethel and Anya, who already miss him very much.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Bernadette; stepdaughter, Kim, and her husband, Donald; grandson, Caleb; and brother-in-law, Flo, along with his many friends, colleagues and generations of listeners who welcomed Sandy Beach into their homes, cars and workplaces through the radio.

Sandy’s remarkable career can be remembered and celebrated at SandyBeachRadio.com.

Visitation will be held at Perna, Dengler, Roberts Funeral Home, 1671 Maple Rd, Williamsville, NY 14221 on September 1, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Gregory the Great RC Church, 200 St Gregory Court, Williamsville, New York 14221 on September 2, 2026, at 10:00 am with live stream available at https://stgregs.org/live-stream. Please assemble at the Church.