Marvin Bachrad

Marvin Bachrad, born December 28, 1935 passed away in Phoenix, AZ on November 30, 2018 at the age of 82. Born and raised in Norristown, Penna son of Max J. Bachrad and Freda Lipow Bachrad, he was a lifelong sports fanatic. As a high school student he would travel to Philadelphia to try and stump the “genius bar” staff of a radio program designed for sports trivia. He was so good at it he won many prizes like baseballs, bats, gloves, footballs etc. that he had a closet filled with them. After a stint in the US Army where he took over running Armed Forces Radio Service station WFJX at Fort Jackson, SC he began his career as a radio announcer and music director for WNAR in Norristown, and began the 1st radio call-in sports talk show in 1965. Then he moved on to report sports for KYW and WCAU radio in Philadelphia. He was the 1st rink announcer for the newly formed Philadelphia Flyers. He was publicity director for Atlantic City Raceway until it burned down, then for the remainder of his life he was associated with the harness race industry…from calling harness races at Brandywine Raceway, Wilmington, DE, and Liberty Bell Park in Philadelphia to assuming the position of publicity director at Brandywine and lastly at Dover Downs in Dover, DE for over 20 years, retiring only this past June. He was a past president of the Harness Writers Association of America, member of the Harness Writers hall of fame, former writer for Harness Times and was a renowned and storied owner of harness horses. Marvin was a well-known authority of harness horse lineage. Everyone who knew him loved him as a sweet unpretentious man who never had a bad word about anyone. He will be sorely missed by his two brothers, Allen (Marci) of Phoenix, AZ and Ronald (Eileen) of Boca Raton FL. A lifelong bachelor he leaves 4 nephews and 6 grand nieces and nephews. Interment will be at Montefiore Cemetery, Jenkintown, PA. Donations in his honor may be made at your discretion or the Mitzvah Circle 1561 Gehman Rd. Harleysville, PA 19438.