Once called the "heart and soul" of Tampa community radio station WMNF-FM for her 20-year stint as a volunteer and staffer, former station manager Vicki Santa died this morning.

Santa, 56, passed away at 3:40 a.m. Tuesday of a pulmonary embolism and pneumonia at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. She had stepped down from her job as station manager at WMNF in June due to declining health, despite surviving a past bout with cancer and ongoing liver problems, her family said.

She also co-hosted the station's self-described "hippie music" program, The Freak Show, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, a program devoted to jam bands such as the Grateful Dead. Friends and fans have organized a tribute to Santa on 6 p.m. Monday at Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa, with music and testimonials. The station will record some of the stories and performances.

A Chicago native, she began volunteering at WMNF in the 1980s, chairing the decorating committee for the station's legendary Tropical Heatwave concert and taking vacation time from her job to spearhead on-air fundraisers. In 1998, she led fundraising for the station as its development director, moving to become the station director two years later, where she was a driving force in building WMNF's new 13,000-square-foot studio.

*

Click below to read a short bio prepared by the station: 

Vicki was the heart and soul of this station and largely instrumental in getting our new radio facility built, both in terms of fundraising and construction acumen. She began volunteering here in the 1980s, first chairing the Tropical Heatwave Decorating Committee. She would also use her vacation time to help in station on-air fundraisers.

In 1998, she was hired as Development Director. In 2000, she rose to station manager. Vicki not only tirelessly helped grow 88.5 Community Radio, but also was a strong advocate and champion of Community Radio in North America and a mentor to many new station managers.

Vicki was on the Board of Directors of Pacifica Radio.  She was active and presented at several National Federation of Community Broadcasters Conferences (NFCB.).  She was also active in establishing the GRC, Grassroots Radio Coalition. Vicki was widely known and respected in public broadcasting as well.

Vicki L. Santa was born in Chicago, IL, on April 5, 1952, the daughter of Martin J. and Phyllis Santa. She is survived by Phyllis Santa, her sister Shelley Santa, and her long-time companion Kenneth Wilson.

Besides WMNF and Community Radio in general, Vicki was passionate about the Grateful Dead and baseball. A season-ticket holder, she lived to see, in person, the Rays in the World Series.  She also was co-host of WMNF’s weekly Freak Show, heard on Tuesdays from 7-9pm with host Ed Greene. 

Vicki, who stepped down due to health reasons this summer, was also recently nominated for the prestigious NFCB Bader Award.