John Soller Sr.

John Carsten Soller, born August 14, 1934, in Youngstown, Ohio, the youngest of four children. John spent his entire youth attending the Youngstown schools, graduating from South High. John achieved All City as center for South's football team his senior year. He spent many summers working at Fresh Air Camp, a camp for underprivileged children in Youngstown. 

John attended Miami University where he was introduced to speech classes and the campus radio station. His studies were in the schools of Business and Arts and Sciences. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. 

Following Miami, John entered the workforce following his interest in broadcasting and was affiliated with WPIC, Sharon, Pennsylvania, WKBN and WFMJ, Youngstown, KDKA, Pittsburgh, Pa., where he performed various staff announcing duties. 

John met Patricia Oggy in Youngstown and were married in 1956. Shortly after, they moved to Cincinnati where John worked for Taft Broadcasting's WKRC-AM Radio. Over the years he performed on air duties and served as Staff Announcer, Chief Announcer and later as Promotion Director. He broke into sales by becoming manager of WKRC-FM. 

The Cincinnati Reds approached John to become Director of Broadcasting when the Reds were opening the new Riverfront Stadium in 1970. He served in this capacity for nearly three years developing the Reds radio network, selling commercial advertising and overseeing broadcasters Al Michaels and Joe Nuxhall. 

John's return to Taft Broadcasting saw him eventually become manager of WKRQ Radio, Cincinnati, WGR Radio, Buffalo, N.Y. and WKRC Radio, Cincinnati where he served as Vice President and General Manager. 

John's Cincinnati years saw him serve as President, Princeton City School Board of Education; President,  Kenwood Country Club; President, Greater Cincinnati Radio Broadcasters Association; President, Neediest Kids of All; Board member of Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. Board member, Woods on Wilkens Homeowners Association; Council member, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. 

Since retiring in the mid 1980's, John was involved in the construction, management and renovation of over ninety homes with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity and spent time with the Slidell, Louisiana Habitat chapter in building homes resulting from the Katrina hurricane disaster. 

John passed in the presence of his loving family after a brief illness on September 16, 2022. He was 88. 

John and Patricia were married 66 years. He is survived by his wife Pat and children John Jr. (Bette) Cincinnati, Laura Soller (Mike Miller) Kaneohe, Hawaii, Scot (Zoe), Arizona and Douglas (Diane), Wisconsin. He was blessed with his 10 grandchildren: Mackenzie (Jon) Davis, Kathryn Miller, Becca (Dan) Sheehan, Erin (Mike) Richter, April, David, Emily, Amanda Soller, and Ayanna and Iam Soller. Also survived by older brother Fred Soller.

A visitation and memorial service will be held on Monday, November 21, 2022 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 7701 Kenwood Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236. Visitation is 9:30 am to 11:30 am, followed by a memorial service at 11:30.

Donations can be made in John’s memory to Habitat for Humanity Greater Cincinnati 4910 Para Dr. Cincinnati, Ohio 45237  Habitat for Humanity Donation Link

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 7701 Kenwood Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236   Good Shepherd Donation Link