WXPN and Philadelphia Radio Legend Helen Leicht Retires

After more than 40 years in Philly radio, Helen leaves her WXPN midday post…

By Paul Marszalek
TheTop22.com

Philadelphia radio veteran Helen Leicht is retiring from WXPN, the station that she joined in 1990.

Leicht started her career in 1976 at WIOQ, with later stops at WMMR and WMGK. She took a leave of absence for health reasons last year, and although she reports she’s nearly 100%, she has decided not to return.

In a letter to fans, she wrote, “I am blessed with the friendships I’ve made, the memories I will keep, the crazy photos I’ve been finding, and the liberty to choose the music and the artists that speak to me and, over so many years, have spoken to you. And I have totally appreciated all your emails and media posts to me since I’ve been off the air.

An amazing journey. I am honored to have worked with some of the most creative, passionate, and beloved DJ’s and programmers in the city and in the industry, past and present. Philly has a rich radio history of loyalty and perseverance, and I’ve learned a lot. We’ve done some good things together, and I’m so pleased to be a small part of all that.

So after a good long run on the radio, I’m going to change to walking on the treadmill. Leaving WXPN is hard to do, but it’s time to slow down, be careful, and devote more time to some of the things I haven’t done yet.”

WXPN paid tribute with a Helen Leicht Day celebration.

Mike Vasilikos has handled the shift in the interim, and the station has indicated that plans for middays will be addressed at a later date.