The Baltimore media community is mourning the loss of James Uhrin aka “Traffic Jam” Jimmy who died of an apparent heart attack Saturday; he was 65.
Uhrin, a fixture at Fox45, worked his way up after originally starting at the station in 1974 as a student at an electronics school run by Sinclair Broadcast Group founder Julian Smith.
“He came into your homes and brightened your mornings, he played Santa for countless children and for babies in the NICU and he never missed a chance to remember our first responders,” said anchor Maxine Streicher during Saturday’s broadcast.
“Jimmy was one of the great men in broadcasting. A credit to his profession and one of the finest human beings that I had the pleasure of working with,” Sinclair Broadcast Group Executive Chairman David Smith told the station’s website.
Uhrin became part of the day-to-day news coverage at Fox45 in 2012, covering community events in addition to his traffic responsibilities. Sharon Wylie, Manager of Public Affairs for FOX45 said Uhrin “personified hard work and dedication.”
“Jimmy was always ready with a helping hand, a laugh, a story. He was a mentor, a role model, and most of all a champion to so many,” she added.
According to Fox45, Uhrin is survived by his wife, Marie, his three children Greg, Martin, and Jess, and six grandchildren.
