John LaBarca, a longtime staple of Fairfield County radio, passed away on May 30 at the age of 75 following a bout with cancer.
The Brooklyn-born LaBarca was best known for his 20-year stint at WICC-AM, where served as a morning drivetime host and also presented the weekly “Italian House Party” show celebrating the music and culture of his Italian heritage. According to the Only in Bridgeport blog, LaBarca was abruptly fired from WICC in 2007 following disagreements with the station”™s manager, an action that resulted in LaBarca”™s fans bombarding the station with angry phone calls. The general manager who fired LaBarca would leave WICC one year later.
LaBarca brought “Italian House Party” to several other radio station before securing a long-term spot with WHLI, a Long Island station; he also maintained a website featuring his programs. A Stratford resident, he was also active in helping local nonprofits in their special events.
