James (Jim) Epperlein, age 67, of Fort Pierce, Florida passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 25, 2021 after a valiant 12-year battle with Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Cancer. He was born on July 13, 1953 in Buffalo, New York to Werner and Lucille (Treadway) Epperlein.
Jim was in the ONE percentile, statistically, for pancreatic cancer survivorship by celebrating 12 birthdays beyond his initial diagnosis and Whipple Surgery in 2009. He often told people that he was a “Walking Miracle”!
Jim attended Arizona State University where he was inducted into the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Jim went on to graduate from San Diego State University in 1979 with a B.A. Cum Laude degree with Distinction in Broadcast Journalism, leading him to over four decades of radio and TV opportunities in broadcast news, traffic and music across this country. During the 1980’s, in Phoenix, Arizona, Jim worked at KRDS-AM, KXEG-AM and KPNX-TV.
Jim went on to program XM 32 The Message for XM Satellite Radio making it America’s Most Listened to Contemporary Christian Music Station in 2008 and he developed the “World’s First Christian Music Streaming Service” called PRAZOR in 2015. In 2018, Jim founded ReZurrection Radio on Spotify to provide an advertisement free Christian music platform, which will carry on in his honor.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Constance Stachow Epperlein and their two married daughters and spouses, Elicia and Kevin Frazier and Jamie and LaRae Rhodes. Jim is also survived by his grandson, Easton Frazier, and six brothers and sisters – Karen Evans, Judy Collins, Susan Webb, William Epperlein, Thomas Epperlein and Ronald Epperlein – all Phoenix, Arizona area residents.
If you would like to reach out to Jim’s family at this time, in lieu of flowers, here are a few suggestions: Cards of comfort can be sent to Connie Epperlein at 7B Heritage Farm Drive, New Freedom, PA 17349
Jim’s wife, Connie, has asked that any memorial gifts in honor of Jim be directed to supporting the amazing pancreatic cancer research being done by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, under the direction of Dr. Daniel Laheru and specifically for the research of Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Cancer. Checks can be made payable to Johns Hopkins University indicating the gift’s designation and mailed to: Kimmel Cancer Center, PO Box 17029, Baltimore, MD 21297. Gifts can also be made online: https:ljsecure.jhu.edu/form/kimmel.
Jim’s daughters, Elicia and Jamie, have created a GoFundMe page for their Dad’s unbelievable medical expenses during this last impossible battle. You can read more about his amazing 12-year cancer journey and you can help their Mom by donating at https://gofund.me/fbla75bb.