Radio host and former Palm Springs Human Rights Commission Chair Bill “Bulldog” Feingold died Friday, K-News announced. He was 70.
Feingold was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer last spring and the disease spread to his lungs. He died early Friday morning at Desert Regional Medical Center, according to the station.
Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, Feingold enjoyed a successful career in finance in New York before following through in 1999 on a lifelong dream to live in California and moved to Los Angeles. Following his retirement a few years later, he moved to Palm Springs, where he joined the city’s Human Rights Commission and was later elected its chair.
What began as a weekend host fill-in gig on a local talk show in 2007 led to the coveted weekday morning drive-time slot on K-News 94.3/104.7.
Feingold received a star on the Walk of the Stars Palm Springs on Oct. 14.
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce called Feingold “one of the most recognizable if not at times controversial leaders in our community.” It also praised him for helping “to raise the awareness of local charitable organizations while giving a voice to their missions to improve the lives of people here in the Coachella Valley.”
Nonprofit organizations Feingold promoted to his listeners included the AIDS Assistance Program/Food Samaritans, Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Palm Springs Pride, Palm Springs Art Museum and Temple Isaiah.