Sean Doherty

It's with deep sadness that we share with you the news that our friend and colleague Sean Doherty died on Saturday, December 8, 2007. He was 47.

A long time sports reporter and Sports Director for WDUQ, Mr. Doherty passed away after an extended illness. His regular weekday reports and interchange with morning jazz host Bob Studebaker on everything from major Pittsburgh sports to Cricket games had been a longstanding fixture on the station for more than a decade.

He had also been seen and heard in many other sportscasting roles in the Pittsburgh market, including cable broadcasts of high school football and basketball contest, as well as three season on the road as the "color" announcer for Duquesne Dukes basketball on WDUQ in the 1990's.

A regular fixture at major Pittsburgh sporting events and related press conferences, he was easily recognized as the knowledgeable reporter in a motorized wheelchair.

A graduate of Duquesne University, Mr. Doherty was injured and became a quadriplegic as the result of an accident playing football in tenth grade at Shady Side Academy He was also involved with the Spinal Cord Society's efforts to fund CURE oriented research projects.

More important than knowing or being touted for what he's already done, Mr. Doherty was most proud that he may have inspired others to accomplish their personal goals.

Sean's original Bio from this page is below. Tributes to Sean byWDUQ Staff are located here.

Sports Director

Sports Director at DUQ since 1987, Sean Doherty is happy when the coffee is ready when he arrives, and even happier when a listener feels compelled to call concerning something from his 9 a.m. sports report. The biggest thrill came in learning that "Handyman" Joe Negri (From Mister Rogers' Neighborhood) listens and likes what he hears.

Sean's career at DUQ actually began in 1984 when he presented an afternoon sports report on Consider This--an irreverent local magazine hosted by Tim Irr that provided Irr and his colleagues the opportunity to learn the triumphs and anxieties of live radio.

He later advanced to substitute sports anchor for the noontime Newsworld program and eventually succeeded John Duffy in the position of daily local sports contributor to Morning Edition. As DUQ's Sports Director, Sean covers the Pirates, Steelers, Penguins and Duquesne Dukes as well as other national and local sports teams. He spent three seasons on the road with Ray Goss and the Duquesne Dukes on 90.5 FM, filling in for Nellie King as Goss' color announcer.

Sean has also been seen and heard in other sports roles around town--particularly Adelphia Channel 20 Cable TV's coverage of weekly football and basketball coverage of the eight schools in the Channel 20 viewing area. His announcing partner at Adelphia is Dan Donahoe--his colleague on the then PRIME Sports Pittsburgh PGH broadcasts of WPIAL Basketball and Football Championships from 1989 to 1994.

Sean presently hosts on Wednesday nights In the Bleachers on Channel 20--a sports fan show, has hosted High School Spotlight and Portrait in Sports--an interview show..

Quadriplegic as the result of an accident playing football in tenth grade at Shady Side Academy, Sean is also involved with the Spinal Cord Society's efforts to fund CURE oriented research projects. More important than knowing or being touted for what he's already done, Sean is most proud that he may have or may yet inspire someone else to accomplish their personal goals. Sean is a graduate of Duquesne University and lives in Mt. Lebanon.