Michael J. Ziegler, 85, of Lancaster, passed away on August 19, 2024, at the Willow Valley Glen among his loved ones and Hospice Care. He was the son of Ruth Schlosser Ziegler and Howard Ziegler of York, Pa., where Mike was raised. He is survived by his wife Susan C. Ziegler, son Hans Ziegler and sons by marriage, Chris Dietrich and Scott Dietrich (Jacquelyn). He is also survived by his beloved granddaughters, Sunny and Violet Dietrich, sister Helenita Ziegler, brother-in-law Richard Myers and five nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Rebecca Myers.

Mike developed a love of broadcasting as a teenager in York riding his bike to a radio station to do odd jobs. He was a proud graduate of Penn State University majoring in speech and was in the Army, both active and reserves, for six years. He served public radio and public TV stations in Charlotte, N.C. and in W.V., and was COO of WITF in Hershey, PA from 1970-1980. Mike then moved to Binghamton, N.Y. where he worked as CEO/General Manager of WSKG for 20 years. He passionately helped build a broad network of public radio and public TV stations across the Southern Tier. He was proud that during his tenure Ithaca had more NPR listeners per capita than anywhere in the country! Mike served as chairman of the NYS Public Broadcasters Association for many years and was nominated for an Emmy.

Mike was a committed contributor on numerous boards and president of several: The American Cancer Society, Harper Forum, Binghamton Philharmonic. He was a member of Rotary Club, part of the Unitarian Universalist Church congregation of Lancaster and volunteered at Strasburg Rail Road. Mike was committed to lifelong learning and believed knowledge-seeking was the obligation of every citizen. He was an avid reader, absorbed The New York Times and the New Yorker magazine weekly. He was also an avid history buff on topics ranging from trains to local history and genealogy. At Willow Valley he was involved with the Apple Users Group, Camera Club, the Bike Club and had a vibrant vegetable garden.

To know Mike was to love him. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.

In memory of Michael Ziegler, donations may be sent to Willow Valley Communities Foundation for the Memory Care Center, 100 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA 17584 or Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.