John Osterlind, a popular radio personality and show host in New Orleans, died at the age of 55 on December 30, 2023. His death shocked and saddened many of his fans and colleagues, who remembered him as a talented and funny broadcaster. But how did John Osterlind die? What was his cause of death? Here is what we know so far.
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Found Unresponsive in His Apartment
According to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), Osterlind was found unresponsive in his Warehouse District apartment by the property management around 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 30. Emergency medical services arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. Osterlind had been living in the 900 block of Poeyfarre Street.
Natural Causes Suspected
Bayou 95.7, the radio station where Osterlind worked most recently, released a statement on social media announcing his death and expressing their condolences. The statement said that Osterlind died of natural causes last week. “He was an integral part of Bayou 95.7 and will always be a part of The Audacy – New Orleans family,” the statement read.
However, the exact cause of death for Osterlind has not been officially confirmed yet. The NOPD said that his death was classified as “unclassified” pending an autopsy. According to Osterlind’s family, an autopsy was scheduled to determine the precise reason for his passing.
A Long and Successful Career in Radio
Osterlind was born on March 10, 1967, in Norwalk, Connecticut. He graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1985 and from Dean Jr Campus in Franklin, Massachusetts, in 1987. He started his career in radio as a college student, working on the campus radio station WGAO FM.
He then moved on to work as a DJ on various rock stations in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, such as WWRX FM, WCCC FM, and WAAF FM. He also co-hosted a morning show on WRKO AM in Boston with former Massachusetts Congressman Peter Blute from 2001 to 2003.
In 2003, he relocated to New Orleans and became the nightly talk host on WRNO FM. He gained popularity with his on-air gags and pranks on his call-in show, along with his co-host James Parker. He left WRNO in 2015 and briefly worked on WGSO AM before landing his own morning talk show on Entercom / Audacy rock station WKBU Bayou 95.7 FM.
Osterlind was known for his witty and humorous style of broadcasting, as well as his passion for music and sports. He often interviewed celebrities and musicians on his show, such as Stone Temple Pilots, Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, and more. He also covered topics such as politics, culture, entertainment, and local news.
Tributes Pour In from Fans and Friends
Osterlind’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes from his fans and friends on social media. Many of them expressed their shock and sadness over losing him, as well as their appreciation for his work and personality.
Mike Hsu, a former colleague of Osterlind at WAAF FM, wrote on Facebook: “This really hurts. Ozone was one of my idols. Hugely talented and a very sweet guy.”
Kaare Johnson, a fellow radio host in New Orleans, tweeted: “It is being reported that former New Orleans talk show host John Osterlind has passed away. What a sad story. Really nice guy. And unlike so much in this particular market, an actual real talk radio host. Knew what he was doing. A pro.”
Michael Castner, another former co-worker of Osterlind at WRNO FM, posted on Facebook: “RIP John Osterlind Rebecca Pratt . The afternoon guy on Rush radio in New Orleans when I was in the morning guy. little did they know the morning guy was gay and the afternoon guy was trans. Just heard John/Rebecca passed away. We had amazing ratings, which would not have been possible Had we been ourselves. What a sad statement. But we both came out later in life and we both lived our truth. Rest easy dude.”
Ed Savoy, a friend of Osterlind’s family, wrote on Facebook: “John Osterlind was a great friend to my brother and our family. He was a great guy and a great radio personality. He will be missed by many.
