Community mourns deaths of postmaster, radio newscaster

CLAIRE ECKRICH loads mail at the La Grande U.S. Postal Service office in January of 2004. Eckrich died on Tuesday after a short battle with cancer.

Bob Maszk Former KLBM newscaster

Postmaster described as ‘great lady, boss and mentor’ 

Conditions were daunting for La Grande U.S. Postal Service mail carriers in early January in 2004. 

Snow, ice and freezing temperatures were making the task of delivering mail dicey. Letter carriers had every reason to be frustrated, but the poor conditions did not dim the spirits of Claire Eckrich, then a La Grande carrier.

Eckrich spoke like she almost welcomed Old Man Winter’s chill. Eckrich told The Observer then of how she enjoyed using the cleats La Grande letter carriers had been issued for the slippery conditions.

“They help me run and skip across the ice,” said Eckrich in 2004 with a smile.

That smile was ever present and infectious, one that the community has lost.

Eckrich, 53, the postmaster of the La Grande U.S. Postal Service office the past five years, died on Tuesday.

Eckrich, who had battled cancer since early December, died at her home in La Grande.

“She was a great lady, boss and mentor. She did a lot for the employees and was extremely loyal to the company (the US. Postal Service),” said Kelly Carreiro, the delivery and customer service supervisor for the La Grande U.S. Postal Service office.

Eckrich had worked at La Grande’s post office since 1991. She was a carrier for 14 years before being promoted to delivery and customer service supervisor in 2005. She was named postmaster in 2007. Carreiro credits Eckrich with adding to the already close knit atmosphere at the La Grande post office.

“She was always there for you if you needed to talk to someone.” 

Amanda Schlegel, the lead window clerk at the La Grande post office, echoes this sentiment.

“She was very caring, if you had a problem she was always willing to listen,” Schlegel said. 

Carreiro noted that Eckrich made sure her carriers and staff were able to take days off when necessary. Eckrich would even do carrier routes by herself to make it possible for someone in a bind to get a day off.

Eckrich worked well not only with her staff, but also the public.

“She was good with customers. She could smooth things over when people were upset,” Schlegel said. 

Eckrich is also being remembered as someone dedicated to community service. She was an active member of the local Rotary and Soroptimist clubs and took great pride in the Postal Service’s annual national Stamp Out Hunger food drive. She regularly came in on her days off to help with Stamp Out Hunger.

Her energy and personality went a long way toward making community service projects successful.

“She was a people person. She had a great relationship with her staff and the community,” said Carreiro, who will serve as interim La Grande postmaster until a permanent successor for Eckrich is named. 

Eckrich lived in La Grande with her husband Jack. She enjoyed outdoor activities, including biking, jogging and walking. She was jogging at least four miles a day right before she got sick.

Her regular exercise helped her deal with the stress of her job, stress that Eckrich never passed on to her staff, Carreiro said.

“She was a calming force on the job … she helped keep things lighthearted. Even on a bad day she would have a smile on her face.”

‘Voice of La Grande’ known for accuracy, rich delivery

A popular radio newscaster once known to some as “The Voice of La Grande’’ has died.

Bob Maszk, 80, died at his home at Crooked River Ranch, 12 miles northwest of Redmond, of natural causes Thursday.

Maszk worked as a newscaster for KLBM radio in La Grande for 27 years before retiring in 1986. He became known for impeccably accurate reports and his rich, distinct voice during his career.

“He had a signature voice and unmistakable, almost deadpan style,’’ said Jeni Tarkus of La Grande.

Tarkus worked at KLBM in the 1980s when Maszk still was there. Tarkus is now the music director at KEOL FM in La Grande.

Maszk, who was born in Minto, N.D., in 1931, came to La Grande after working five years as a disc jockey in Pendleton at KWRC (now KTIX), where he became its news director.

He was hired as KLBM’s news director in 1959. Maszk, in a 1985 Observer article, joked that his title as news director was a little misleading.

“I don’t direct anybody but myself,’’ Maszk said.

The broadcaster said he always had a free reign as news director at KLBM, even during his early days when the station operated on the mezzanine of the now demolished Sacajawea Hotel. It was there that he interviewed people such as Oregon Gov. Tom McCall and began developing a knowledge base that would serve him well during his career here.

“He was a man of reclusive wisdom,’’ Tarkus said.

Tarkus explained that Maszk could always be counted on to have an in-depth understanding of what was happening on the local scene but he was a person who kept to himself.

Maszk was also a precise speaker.

“He was understandable, clear and highly discernible. He spoke perfect English,’’ Tarkus said.

Maszk started several public service programs soon after joining KLBM, several of which he continued to produce throughout his tenure here. Two of the most familiar were “Coffee Break’’ and “Pulse of the City.’’ In both, Maszk discussed local news events with public officials. He also interviewed Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists each Friday.

Maszk wrote all of the news reports he read on the air and never wavered from his text.

“He was never spontaneous or ad libbed,’’ Tarkus said.

Maszk was careful to report only indisputable information. He would never inject phrases or words like “maybe’’ or “I think.’’ This meant listeners had few reasons to doubt the accuracy of his reporting.

“He had an aura of believability,’’ Tarkus said.

A celebration of life ceremony for Maszk is set for July 28 at Camp Sherman on the Metolius River in Jefferson County.