Longtime WKTV Engineer passes away at age of 83

Story Created: Apr 19, 2009 at 11:54 PM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 20, 2009 at 2:03 AM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The NEWSChannel 2 family is remembering one of their former Chief Engineers, Merv Ainsworth, who died Sunday at the age of 83. He worked at WKTV for 42 years.

Mervin G. Ainsworth was a native of Utica. He graduated from MVCC and was a veteran of the United States Navy. He started at WKAL in Rome before joining WKTV in September of 1950, less than a year after the station began broadcasting.

Merv was a licensed engineer who helped design the remote control systems of the station's transmitters on Kallet Hill in Middleville. In 1980, he was promoted to Chief Engineer of WKTV by then-station General Manager Shell Storrier. He held this position until his retirement on April 23, 1992.

Ainsworth was a lifetime member of the SBE or Society of Broadcast Engineers based in Syracuse. He helped build the area's first FM stereo station, WUFM 107.3 in 1962. Merv was also very active in the congregation of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Utica.

Merv is survived by his wife of 56 years, Caroline and their two daughters, Linda Marafioti of Utica and Karen Schmidt of Sherrill.

WKTV NEWSChannel 2 sends their sympathies to the Ainsworth family and thanks Merv for his longtime dedication to the station.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

What's On