(Cleveland) - It is with very heavy hearts that we report our friend and co-worker, Mike Trivisonno, suddenly passed away today, Thursday, October 28. He was 74 years old.
Triv was on 1100 AM, both 3WE, and WTAM, for 27 years. His radio career actually started before that on 1100 3WE, when he became a regular caller to Sportsline with Pete Franklin. Franklin thought that Triv was such a pain in the rear, he nicknamed Triv, "Mister Know-it-All."
That notoriety led to his hiring to do sports during the "Those Guys in the Morning" show on 98.5 WNCX. That gig lasted until "Those Guys" were replaced with the Howard Stern Show.
Shortly after that, in 1994, Triv was hired by 3WE to host Sportsline, the evening show on which he bugged Pete Franklin. A 6-10 p.m. show moved to 4-8 p.m, and eventually, after WTAM became the flagship of the Cleveland Indians, 3-7 p.m. each weekday afternoon.
Triv referred to himself as a "dumb Dago from the East Side of Cleveland with a 10th grade education," but what he lacked in formal schooling, he made up for it with wit and common sense. In recent years, he made it clear that he "Lived in a world I don't understand," as he would go on about social and political issues, after originally talking just about sports.
Over the years, Triv not only made us think, he also made us laugh, with bits like "Crack Patrol," in which he wanted to see for himself if it was as easy as people said to buy crack cocaine on the west side. The bit ended up with Triv and Paul Rado being surrounded by police, after they were almost completely ignored by alleged drug dealers. They never bought the drugs, but Triv did run a stop sign.
Triv was generous with his time, especially when it came to the charity Coats For Kids. For years, Triv and his crew put on Las Vegas-style variety shows to raise money for Coats for Kids, which still raises money to buy coats for children who can't afford them each winter.
Triv was preceded in death by wife Linda, who died from cancer. He's survived by his wife of ten years, Tami, and four children.
The family will receive guests on Monday, November 1, from 2-7 p.m. at DiCiccio and Sons Funeral Home, 5975 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, November 2, at 11:00 a.m., at Saint Anselm Church, 12969 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland.