Editor’s Note: John Anglim passed away unexpectedly as this article about his work with community radio was being prepared for publication. Though we regret that he never had the chance to read this story in print, we are grateful to his family and friends for helping us honor his life, creativity and contributions in the Grand Valley.

For more than two decades, John Anglim’s voice was part of the sound of the Grand Valley.

A longtime supporter of KAFM Community Radio, Anglim used the airwaves to champion local music, artists and nonprofits. Off the air, he brought the same creativity to his work as a photographer, musician, writer and artist.

“John’s voice, presence and warm spirit were a great gift to us all in the arts community,” said Wendy Videlock, who partnered with Anglim on Word-Up Open Mic, a poetry series for local writers and spoken-word artists. “John reminded us all what a great joy it is to be alive and living the creative life.”

Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Anglim, 78, and his wife, Diane, moved to Grand Junction in 2000.

“We kept saying what a nice place it was,” Anglim said. “Then when my mom needed care, my sisters moved her here, and we decided we wanted to be part of that next chapter.”

Not long after, Anglim discovered KAFM Community Radio.

“I heard this crazy music and found out it was coming from a community radio station,” he said. 

After answering an on-air call for a T-shirt designer, he visited the station and met managers Peter Trosclair and Julia Hall.

“We all just hit it off,” he said. 

That introduction turned into decades of involvement. KAFM launched in 1999, and Anglim got involved just a year later, when it was still a strong alternative to mainstream radio.

He served nine years on KAFM’s board and helped launch the Radio Room, a live music venue inside the station at 1310 Ute Ave.

“Most local bands are not going to be played by nationwide station groups, but we play local music all the time,” said Anglim. “The other thing that KAFM does is we’ll have local musicians come in and play live on the air.”

Anglim was best known to many listeners as co-host of “The Kitchen Sink,” the Grand Valley’s only call-in show. The Friday program became a place for people to promote events and share news.

“We get every conceivable kind of phone call, from people wanting to buy and sell things to people promoting events,” Anglim said. “A lot of nonprofits call when they have fundraisers to promote.”

Longtime programmer Suzi Creme Cheeze co-hosted the show with Anglim and said his absence will be deeply felt.

“John was the kindest, most loving and talented person I have ever known,” she said. “His passing has left a big hole in my heart and in the lives of everyone who knew and loved him. The Kitchen Sink will go on in his honor. [We] will do our best to make it something John would be proud of.”

Anglim also co-hosted “State of the Arts,” a monthly KAFM program with Art Center Executive Director Lee Borden that highlighted local artists, exhibits and events.

Outside the studio, Anglim was active in the local art scene. His work included photography, digital collage and assemblage. His art is featured in galleries across the Grand Valley, including Craig Gallery in Palisade, which is run by John’s older sister, Kay Anglim-Crane.

Anglim also self-published a book of street photography, “Walkabout,” and a poetry collection, “Footloose in Bardo.”

“John’s photography revealed his artist’s eye for the extraordinary, hidden within the ordinary,” Crane said. “By drawing our attention to that one essential element or detail, he revealed beauty that had been there all along, waiting to be noticed, inviting us to linger a little longer and look more deeply.”

Sandra Dorr, a friend of Anglim’s, remembered him as an unforgettable musician.

“When he played harmonica, his whole body weaved with the music,” she said. “What an incredible musician he was.”

As media habits evolve, Anglim believed community radio’s future lies in what larger platforms cannot offer. 

“The landscape has changed,” he said, “but what can’t be replicated is local. I feel that in many ways, the future of community radio will be to focus much more on local arts, on local stories, on local music.”

Videlock said Word-Up Open Mic will continue at Copeka Coffee on the third Tuesday of each month in Anglim’s honor.

“His voice at the mic and on the radio was always a great comfort,” she said. “His legacy is one of wisdom, laughter and community. May we all take inspiration and guidance from his example.”

To learn more about Anglim and his work, visit JohnAnglim.com. Listeners can support KAFM through memberships and donations at KAFMradio.org or by calling 970-241-8801.