New Hampshire PBS is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Cliff Blake, the longtime voice of the station and a beloved advocate for community storytelling, the arts and music.
Cliff’s story spans decades. His warm, familiar voice has been part of the fabric of the station and in homes across the Granite State and beyond since 1991. Viewers would hear Cliff’s unmistakable voice signing on the station and reminding audiences, “You’re watching viewer-supported Channel 11,” “Welcome to the NHPTV Spring Auction,” or “Tonight at nine on New Hampshire PBS.”
Cliff’s connection to New Hampshire PBS began over 50 years ago. In 1971, as a student at the University of New Hampshire, he worked as a camera operator at what was then Channel 11 in the basement of the UNH Memorial Union Building. From 1973 to 1974, Cliff served as a work-study audio booth announcer, and, after that, he worked on the Auction, behind the camera, until 1976.
Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Cliff’s radio career took off. He served as program director and on-air talent at stations including WFTQ in Worcester and WAAF, WROR and WZLX in Boston. Later, he worked as operations manager and program director at WOKQ in Dover. Over the years, he also returned to Channel 11 as a volunteer, and in 1991, he officially became the station’s primary voiceover talent.
Nowhere was his spirit more evident than during the annual NHPBS Spring and Winter Auctions. Year after year, Cliff volunteered not just to support the fundraiser but to build community and form relationships with hundreds of fellow volunteers, donors and staff. As both auctioneer and host, he brought boundless energy and a sense of creativity and fun to every broadcast, pushing boundaries to engage audiences in the studio and viewers at home.
Outside of public broadcasting, Cliff was a record executive for Warner Bros. and Sony Music. He spent years on the road representing some of country music’s biggest stars. Yet even while traveling, he remained deeply committed to New Hampshire PBS, often recording voiceovers from his hotel room to ensure the station never missed a sponsor credit, station announcement or promotional spot.
In 2019, following his retirement from Sony Music, Cliff joined the staff of New Hampshire PBS as fundraising and special events manager. In this role, he became the master of ceremonies, and his natural ability to command a room, connect with audiences and make every event successful and memorable was unparalleled.
“We are extremely honored to have worked with Cliff in so many ways and for so many years,” said Peter Frid, New Hampshire PBS president and CEO.” He was a fierce and unwavering champion of the idea that New Hampshire PBS is for everyone. He believed that public media should be open, inclusive, accessible and deeply reflective of the communities it serves.”
In 2021, Cliff retired from his full-time position at New Hampshire PBS and decided to give back locally in Dover, serving with the Dover Library Trustees, the Dover Arts Commission and the Dover Doers. Yet his connection to New Hampshire PBS remained strong. He continued to record voiceovers, host events and support the station he loved for more than half a century.
“Cliff’s legacy isn’t defined by a single role or title. It’s defined by his impact on the communities he strengthened, the artists he championed and the countless people whose lives are richer because he chose to give back,” said Carla Gordon Russell, director of marketing and communications. “Cliff’s voice will always be a part of New Hampshire PBS.”
In recognition of Cliff’s 35 years as a voiceover talent, New Hampshire PBS is dedicating a brand-new compact, portable audio isolation booth in his honor. Equipped with state-of-the-art acoustics and a sound-control glass door, this StudioBricks recording booth will help the station capture professional-quality audio for years to come.
Blake passed away on March 16, 2026 in Dover, New Hampshire at the age of 73 after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He had been a resident of Dover since 1989 and leaves behind his wife, Pauline, and three daughters, Darcie Blake, JJ Blake and Kristy Blake Agosti. He was born July 20, 1952, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Neal and Gloria Blake, the eldest of three boys. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1974 with a BA in Communications.
Cliff Blake leaves behind an incredible legacy of public service, community connection and the gift of his warm, familiar voice. New Hampshire PBS extends its deepest condolences to Cliff’s family. He will be profoundly missed by colleagues, friends and viewers across New Hampshire and beyond.
In honor of Cliff, the Blake family asks that people donate to their local library, arts organization or Compassionate Care ALS, and to “turn up the volume while you’re doing it.”
