Ed Schwartz

Schwartz was diagnosed with renal failure in September 2005, not long after he was no longer writing his column. Several radio colleagues began organizing fund-raisers to help pay for his medical treatment. After spending a year in a nursing facility, Schwartz returned home in 2006 and began writing a novel based on his life experiences. However, Schwartz continued to suffer from kidney and heart problems, and died on February 4, 2009, aged 62. He was laid to rest under sunny skies after graveside services at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park.

Rival radio personalities, especially those at WLUP, frequently ridiculed Schwartz's upbeat radio program and made light of his battles with obesity. Kevin Matthews, for example, portrayed a character named "Ed Zeppelin”. This character sang parody songs about food and overeating; another was Steve Dahl. Schwartz rarely acknowledged their barbs, however, and actually accepted an offer to join WLUP in 1992. However, Schwartz failed to attract the same number of listeners he enjoyed while at WGN, due in large part to a constantly changing time-slot, and he parted ways with WLUP in 1995. Afterward, Schwartz became a columnist for Lerner Newspapers, which published neighborhood-specific periodicals throughout the Chicago area.

In 1982, at the suggestion of popular WGN radio host Bob Collins, Schwartz moved his program to the more powerful WGN (AM), where he began his Good Neighbor Food Drive. This event annually raised up to $200,000 while collecting several tons of food; it was the largest one-day food drive in the United States. According to Schwartz, the food drive was initially a response to mayor Jane Byrne's decision to spend several thousand dollars on fireworks while Chicago food pantries were struggling to feed the homeless. Schwartz's generous deeds brought him much attention throughout the Chicago area, and by 1992, his program was reaching nearly 380,000 listeners a week and was considered the top-rated overnight radio show in Chicago. Even though Schwartz was no longer on the air in 1996, WMAQ (AM) played host to the food drive and invited him to preside over it on their airwaves. WBBM-AM has hosted this annual holiday event since 1997.

After working as a gofer at WLS (AM) and WIND (AM), where he was hired as the music librarian, Schwartz became a full-time late-night host at WIND in 1973. Ed Schwartz did not have a voice that was naturally suited for radio. His multiple attempts to win an on-air position at both WLS-AM and WIND had failed, but feeling he had something to offer the public via the airwaves, Schwartz never gave up his hopes.

Ed Schwartz (May 5, 1946 – February 4, 2009) was a Chicago media personality who hosted local late-night radio programs from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He was nicknamed "Chicago Ed."