Gerard A. Fedell, television broadcaster

Fedell

Gerard A. Fedell, 57, of Amherst, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

Born in Salamanca, N.Y., Mr. Fedell graduated from Archbishop Walsh High School in Olean and Syracuse University.

He began his 30 year career in broadcasting at age 15 as a radio announcer for WGGO in Salamanca. He later worked for other radio stations in Olean, Fredonia and Washington D.C., and at WEBR in Buffalo. In his early years he also worked as a reporter for Buffalo Courier-Express.

Mr. Fedell's television broadcasting career began at WHEN-TV in Syracuse. He worked at WBBM-TV in Chicago, KMOV-TV in St. Louis, WUSA-TV in Washington D.C. and as news director at WKBW-TV and WGRZ-TV in Buffalo. He was also an associate professor of communications at Canisius College in Buffalo for several years.

His work in journalism and broadcast news earned him numerous awards throughout his career, including an Emmy Award and Awards from the National Press Club, Associated Press and the Radio-TV News Directors Association.

Mr. Fedell was ordained as a minister in 1995 and, along with his wife, founded The Falls Wedding Chapel in Niagara Falls. The chapel has since married thousands of couples from all over the world. He also served as a volunteer chaplain at Erie County Medical Center.

He was a member of the Buffalo Directors Association, and a gifted pianist.

He is survived by his wife, Sally; four daughters, Stephanie Maines, Madeleine Parlato, Lindsay and Savannah; and four grandchildren.

Services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at St. Benedict Church in Eggertsville. Arrangements were made by Amigone Funeral Home & Cremation Service.