Cronkite Board Chairman Killed in Car Accident

Jane Bergamo, Walter Cronkite and Ron Bergamo at this year’s Cronkite Award Luncheon.

Ron Bergamo, chairman of the Cronkite School Endowment Board of Trustees and general manager of AZ-TV in Phoenix, was killed in a car accident Sunday.

A longtime media executive, Bergamo was general manager of KSAZ-TV in Phoenix in the 1980s and 1990s before becoming general manager and vice president of AZ-TV, the only locally owned TV station in Arizona.

He was named chairman of the Cronkite School Endowment Board of Trustees last month after many years of service to the board and the school at Arizona State University.

“This is a devastating loss for all of us at the Cronkite School and the entire Valley media community,” said Cronkite Dean Christopher Callahan. “Ron has been a great advocate on behalf of our school and students for many years.

“His passion for young people and the media business was infectious. We were talking recently about the coming year, and he was brimming with enthusiasm and great ideas,” said Callahan.

“We will miss Ron’s great leadership, his smile that lit up every room he entered, his passion, his love of life, and his friendship. We send our deepest condolences to Ron’s family, and we pray for Jane’s speedy recovery.” Bergamo’s wife was seriously injured in the accident.