By Extreme Justin at http://extremejustin.com/
[Update, Feb 11.: I forgot to mention that Channel 10 news did a feature on Lovetain's show as well as the oracle. I hope to have video made available at some point. I will add the Oracle link to this soon.]
Feb. 10, 2007
Yesterday Dr. Johnny P. Lovetrain did a memorial show for Ron Stem. I was there for some of it. I was a guest on the show because I wanted to be there when Lovetrain remembered a man who did so much for WBUL. His death was very hard on Lovetrain and many others at the station. I think it was wonderful that Johnny did such a great tribute to Ron. I only wish that all the former and present DJs at WBUL were there to see it. Hopefully they watched or listened on the net.
I was there one year ago today when Angela sent out the message to everyone at WBUL about Ron’s death as she fought back tears. It was the day we ordered our black T-shirts and the day I met L.T. I was there at Ron’s memorial service on March 9, 2006 ironically the anniversary of the death of Biggie Smalls (one of the causualties of the East-West rap war along with Tupac). As the memorial service played outside, a separate memorial song to Biggie Smalls aka Notorius B.I.G. was being played inside by L.T. Laila met most of the people at WBUL either on the day we ordered the T-shirts or at the memorial service. As I watched my friends recount their memories of Ron in tears, I felt like I knew him from the vivid stories. I can actually picture Ron even now. But I’ve never met Ron Stem. He was taken from us before I even had a chance to meet him. His story and works inspired me so much that I tried to emulate him in the things I did at WBUL . I did a lot at the station and at times I ruffled feathers and ticked people off. That was all unintentional, and I had the best intentions in my heart. I didn’t realize how successful I was at it until I read my friend Marisa’s kind but truthful words about Ron I wonder if the same could one day be said of me. At the memorial service I felt a calling to do more for the station. And whatever choices (right or wrong) I made they were for the love of WBUL and of our DJs and staff there. And they were inspired by Rockin’ Ron Stem. I’m sure I would have not only liked him but I would have called him a friend.
Justin Kimberlin
Former Extreme Music Coordinator for WBUL
I will leave you with Marisa’s words.
“In memory of Ron, I just wanted to say I loved the energy that Ron
brought to the station. He had a passion to make the station better for the
students. He was definitely not a person that went unoticed at the
station. At our monthly meetings Ron always had something to say whether his
statements were good or bad, it was solely for the good of the station.
I can appreciate that Ron didn’t care who he ruffled up wheather it was
SG, administration, the directors at the station or even fellow students
because his purpose was to make WBUL 1620 AM as great as it possibly could be. With that said, Ron, it has been a year but you will not be forgotten at the
station ever. Thank you for all you did here!! ”
Marisa Kahn
