Afternoon tragedy the resonates through Kansas City journalism and restaurant scene . . .
Here's public radio picking up the story from Facebook . . .
Kansas City Food Critic And Radio Personality Charles Ferruzza Dies At 62
Try to leave nice comments . . . We might feature the best ones for a compilation later. Mr. Ferruzza was an exceptional person and possibly one of the best community journalists Kansas City will every know.
I remember him being a guest on the Tom Becka radio show in the early 2000s. Got good info on restaurants since that was before online reviews.
ReplyDeleteHe was a great guy. Very entertaining and funny. He'll be missed.
ReplyDeleteThe Food Critics show won't be the same without him.
ReplyDeleteWhen Charles Ferruzza spoke I listened. He knew what he was talking about. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI like reading what Charles had to say. We would banter back and forth once in a while but overall he was a good writer who could tell a good story about the food here and there.
ReplyDeleteRIP Charles. Send us a review of the food and service in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteI just saw Charles and his friends including Bob Barr, two weeks ago at the Tivoli at the Nelson, the movie about sound effects--he was in fine fittle and very happy. Now, gone at 62. A good reminder that we never know when will be the last time we get to laugh with a friend.
ReplyDeleteCJ Janovy's tribute on KCUR was sensational:
https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-city-food-critic-and-radio-personality-charles-ferruzza-dies-62
Yes, Charles had a wicked sense of humor. Beyond that, I appreciated that he was KIND. He always made me feel good about myself. That he was in my fan club,no matter what the mean guys were saying about me.
Charles also had a totally camp Facebook page, sprinkled with cartoons and photos from the 50's. His delicious sense of humor was the genre of whispered remarks said at the back of any room...hand over the mouth.
Charles great gift to the world was saying what others were thinking, but were too afraid to say. He was Kansas City's Oscar Wilde.
I was always in amazement at how he lived life outloud, on a meager income. His life seemed to be one long party, where he knew the most fun people there. Charles invented himself when his career at the Pitch was ripped away from him, unfairly. He lost his job well ahead of the rest of journalism totally falling apart.
Charles was an inspiring example of figuring out how to blend two apparently disparate lifestyles/cultures: Catholic mass and daily devotions?? From a church that officially at least didn't want to give him communion. His family religion didn't want to admit that homosexuality is part of God's many acceptable and natural expressions. And that it is not a "choice", it's life.
Say hi to Walt Bodine and Marilyn Strauss, Charles. They've been saving a chair for you!
Beautiful lament Tracy. Just perfect.
ReplyDeleteI only met him twice, he had me smiling right away. Very quick and a very interesting guy.
God bless him and his family.
8:31 Tony said be nice, guess simple words is something your simple mind is unable to grasp. Always has to be that one fuckup in the crowd.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments Kansas Scout, Dave & Tracy!
ReplyDeleteHis reviews were always interesting. Sprinkled with little historical gems regarding Kansas City. He will truly be missed.
ReplyDeleteWe never missed his excellent reviews in The Pitch, and he was very kind and funny when we saw him on the plaza once.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Charles.
I worked with Charles doing magazine writer and he Wouk give me tips now and then. I often felt inferior to him because he had such style and humor. The day he told me I was every bit as good as he was but I just couldn’t see it made me feel better about my writing than any editor ever had before. Charles was good, kind, snarky, witty, intelligent, humble, and just damn funny ... a joy to be around and a privilege to know. He will be greatly missed. Goodbye for now, Charles. Until we meet up again...
ReplyDelete62 is a little young to die in this modern age. Anyone know what the cause was?
ReplyDeleteSad to see him go. Sad to see both him AND Bill Shapiro gone in the same month. Shapiro was way underrated. The slow march to then end of KC Journalism and media continues
Great writer. His friends and the nice memorials describe a wit and a sparkling personality and that’s not hard to imagine from the lively restaurant reviews. And is it not a little bit appropriate on this sad occasion of the passing of a local writer also to lament and reflect on the loss of local print journalism and writing and a time when talented people like the deceased could make a living at it. thx, radish
ReplyDeleteMay his soul and the souls of all faithful departed rest in peace, I have never met Charles, but I enjoyed listening to the anything goes show on Friday's on KKFI 90.1, he will be missed, prayers to his family and friends
ReplyDeleteBatsclarke
I graduated from Cathedral High School, an all male Catholic College Prep School in Indianapolis, in 1975 with Charles. The school was, at that time, run by the Brothers of the Holy Cross. You attended Cathedral because you were an exceptional athlete, scholar, or misfit. Charles was not a scholar and definitely not an athlete. He was not mean spirited nor was he an incorrigible, undisciplined student. With that being said I have to say that at day's end when the "report to detention" announcement went out across the PA, Charles' name was on that list at least three times every week for the four years we were there. HILARIOUS considering that Charles was liked by students and faculty alike but just could not control his smart (and mostly funny) mouth. He earned the nickname "the detention king" and students would clap or cheer sometimes when his name was called out for detention. Thanks for the memories, Charles. Sorry your time came too soon.
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