Wiki Bio / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Shelli Sonstein is an American radio host, presenter, and personality from New York.
- Smart, confident and passionate about her causes, Shelli has worked in radio for decades and has even used her career as a platform to help sponsor her charitable efforts.
Personal Life : Marriage and Family
- Sonstein got married at a very young age but quickly filed for divorce.
- She eventually married again and had three children, a daughter named Dina and two sons named Ryan and Aaron.
- Shelli and the father of her children divorced after a long marriage.
- Now, she is also the grandmother of two boys named Evan and Zach.
- In February of 2016, Sonstein got engaged to her boyfriend, John Schaninger. The couple had been dating for a while and were both divorcees.
- They tied the knot on December 18, 2016, in Stockton, New Jersey, at a venue called Prallsville Mill. The ceremony was officiated by Shelli’s longtime co-host on radio Q1043, Jim Kerr.
- Both Shelli and John’s children took part in the wedding, from Shelli’s daughter being her maid of honor to John’s son being his best man. The couple’s children also gave nice speeches during the reception.
Education : Qualifications, High School & College Info
- When she was in high school, Sonstein started her journey as a social activist, protesting various injustices from the Vietnam War to gender inequality. This continued well into her days as a student at Temple University and even currently as a radio host in New York.
Career, Job, Salary and Net Worth :
- Shelli’s career began in 1973 when she worked at a Philadelphia-based station called WMMR at the young age of 18. She was given the job after the station’s PD, Jerry Stevens, noticed her activism on radio and TV. Later, she worked as a reporter and news anchor.
- In 1977, Shellie joined ABC Radio as newscaster. She worked at the station for three years before leaving in 1980.
- Later, she was hired by Larry Berger to join the WPLJ station as a co-host alongside Jim Kerr. The duo worked together for 13 years and switched to WMTR/WDHA together, where they worked for a year as co-hosts and news directors.
- Shelli and Jim Kerr are still co-hosting and have worked together for over two decades. They joined the classic rock station WAXQ in October of 2003.
- In addition to her radio career, Shelli also spent two decades working on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Interesting Facts, Height and Trivia :
- When she is not working or spending time with her kids and grandkids (who live in California), Shelli enjoys swimming in the ocean in New Jersey and kayaking on the Shark River.
- She uses her career as a radio host to raise awareness for first responders and people who were close by during the 9/11 attacks. Part of Shelli’s cause is to not only highlight the first responders’ bravery but also to call attention to people suffering from health issues related to inhaling toxins and chemicals when the buildings collapsed.
- Shelli has also authored a book titled ‘The Thoroughly Tasteful Dirty Joke Book’.
9-11 was terrible, but let us all try to get over it.
Hi Shelli,
I’ve been trying to help 22-year quadriplegic women fight to get to go to a Taylor Swift concert on May 28th 2023 on the principal at this point. She waited on the phone to order 3 tickets in the “HANDICAPPED SECTION,” Ticket Master didn’t offer any, NO button to press. Spoke to a rep from the Met Life Center and her answer was they sold out fast. Rebecca is newly injured and is a C-1 injury for life. They DO BLOCK anyone from buying from these sections Rebecca can roll into. Any able-bodied person can buy tickets and sit on folding chairs. This has been going on for years. They hide behind the “not allowed to ask what your injury is” which only hurts the people stuck in chairs that can not even try to get into the 80,000 regular seats. Any chance you can be a voice for this disgusting practice? I’m a caregiver for 16 years to a 36-year-old quad and this is all we see, getting blocked out and watching NONE wheelchair-bound people abusing the section. Rebecca doesn’t want anything for free, just someone to help with this major problem and to get in on May 28th. Thank you! 631-374-5465 is my number.
Hi Shelli!!! I hope you can help or give me some direction.
I have a 59-year-old son who has MS…he cannot walk without the use of a walker, and has no use of his left arm. He worked at the dump sorting material from the TWIN TOWER BUILDINGS. Is there any way he would be eligible for some kind of help from the fund? He was fully healthy until he worked there.
Thanking you in advance.
Marlene
I am not sure but he should def talk to Barasch McGarry at 917-970-1648 or 917-636-4661. Be SURE to say I sent him. He should at the very least get into a health program now!
Hi Shelli,
Thank you for the work you do for 911 and post stories. We all must never forget! I almost lost my brother that day. He was on a plane heading home to Washington DC. Luckily his plane was stopped on the tarmac and sent back to the gate. Very grateful every day.
Hi Shelli,
I have been listening to classic rock forever, I think. My hippie sister, much older than me, turned me on to Rock music when I was just 12…I miss the older stuff, but time goes by fast and wow, we get older too! Anyways, I just Googled your bio. Wow, you sound great and look great too..lol. I am just 61. Thank you for all you do for 9/11. My nephew is a retired firefighter and that could have been him.
Keep rocking. Say hi to Jim Kerr…love “Stranger News”. Lol
You have an awesome voice, Shelli! I listen to the show on weekday mornings when I am walking home from work.
Brian.