James N. Shaheen

James N. (Jim) Shaheen died peacefully in his home on June 26, 2024, surrounded by family at age 88. He was born to immigrant parents, Eva and Nicholas Shaheen, on Sept 19, 1935, the youngest of 5 children. His early upbringing was spent living above the family grocery store, and his father, in addition to running the grocery, was the cantor at the local Eastern Orthodox church. This set the tone for his lifetime as a devout Eastern Orthodox church member.

Jim was an outstanding athlete as a young man, and was captain of the football team at Canton Lehman High School. He was an All-State tackle in Ohio, and was recruited by multiple division one college football programs. An injury in the Ohio All-Star game ended his college football aspirations.

In college, Jim became interested in radio as a career choice. During school, he began working as a disc jockey. It was the early days of rock’n’roll, and northern Ohio was a hotbed of this music. Jim spent his early years after college learning this industry, working not only as on-air talent, but in sales, and eventually, in management. He met Sylvia Drakos at this time, and she became the love of his life, marrying on May 7, 1961. As he climbed the ladder through the industry, he worked in several companies, including a short stint as a station manager in New York.

In 1973, he purchased his own radio station, WDLR, in Delaware, Ohio. As an AM radio station with a focus on serving the community, Jim leaned into this role. Jim and Sylvia became pillars of the community. Over the years, Jim’s natural leadership skills were called into use in multiple roles, including President of the Chamber of Commerce, Founder and Chairman of the Little Brown Jug Festival, and other roles. He was a valued advisor to city leaders and a common presence at city council and county board of commissioners’ meetings. Recognizing their contributions to the community, the mayor of Delaware declared September 20, 1989 as Sylvia and Jim Shaheen Day in Delaware.

Over the years, Jim expanded his business to include a Columbus-based FM radio station, a television station, and a magazine. In 1996, he sold the entirety of his business and retired to spend more time with his family. Jim and Sylvia spent their retirement migrating between Florida in the winters and Ohio for the other three seasons. Jim was an avid golfer, who hit the ball far, but rarely straight, and he spent much of this time in the woods of Florida and Ohio.

Jim and Sylvia have 3 children, Debbie, Nick, and Jimmy, and six grandchildren, Chris, Tyler, Jenna, Olivia, James and Joseph. He is survived by Sylvia and all of them. Jim and Sylvia were most excited about the recent arrival of three great-grandchildren, Rhodes, Leah, and Brisa. He considered his kids to be the major achievement of his life, and they were his main source of pride. He was unfailingly supportive of his family, and his counsel was sought by them all before any major life decision. He was universally loved by his employees and community. Jim saw the best in the people he encountered, and was kind to those around him. He will be missed by his family and friends.