The world of communication, sports and politics say goodbye this Sunday to Pepe Domingo Castaño, one of the most recognizable voices on Spanish radio, who has died in Madrid at the age of 80.
“Great communicator”, “the voice of the radio” or “enjoyment” are some of the adjectives that the majority of the representatives from all areas who have said goodbye to Pepe Domingo Castaño at the Pozuelo de Alarcón funeral home have agreed on ( Madrid).
“A radio genius is gone, the master of communication is gone, the father of the COPE editorial team is gone,” the journalist and narrator Manolo Lama, who shared space with Castaño in the program ‘Tiempo de Juego’, on Cadena COPE, together with its director, Paco González.
Precisely, the program has lamented the death of the Galician communicator, a “radio legend”, while the presenter Juanma Castaño, from ‘El Partidazo de COPE’, has stressed that the presenter was “in a happy moment in life” .
“A great piece of radio history left this morning. Legend forever,” said sports journalist Julio Maldonado about Castaño, with whom he had “the privilege” of working.
From music radio, announcer Tony Aguilar has referred to the Galician as a “teacher and legend”, and has highlighted his work as a presenter of musical programs or his role as a singer.
The Cadena SER program ‘Carrusel Deportivo’, in which Castaño participated for several years, has also fired the journalist and has sent his “deepest and most heartfelt condolences” to the family, friends and fellow journalists, among whom many have remembered his emblematic greeting “hello, hello”.
The sports world has also mourned the death of the presenter. “Today one of the great voices of sports radio has gone out,” stressed the Higher Sports Council (CSD) in a message on its X profile.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has remembered Castaño for his “passion and vitality”. “Pepe was the radio, he was part of our football (…). His voice snuck into our lives forever,” he noted.
The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, has also regretted the loss of Castaño, “part of the history of radio and football”, while tennis player Rafa Nadal has assured that this Sunday is a “sad day” for the people he loves the sport. “A reference for Spanish sports radio has left us,” he added.
“The transistor nights are much sadder today,” said the Endesa League, while the Real Madrid Football Club, like many other teams, remembered Castaño as a “legend of communication and sports journalism”.
Likewise, Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso said he was proud to have met the presenter and thanked him. “It will never be the same again,” he lamented.
The players Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas, among others, have also said goodbye to “one of the great voices of radio and football”, “a great professional” who they have referred to as a “genius among geniuses”.
“Without a doubt one of the saddest days for Spanish journalism and sport,” said swimmer and Olympic champion Mireia Belmonte.
Several politicians have also joined the messages in memory of Castaño, among them the acting president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who, in a message on the social network and listen to the radio.”
“His optimism, his closeness and his sympathy accompanied millions of Spaniards throughout the day. Thank you. Rest in peace,” added the head of the Executive.
As a “friend”, the former President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, has come to say his last goodbye to Castaño, whom, he revealed, he had “treated a lot in his last period, but not like anything, neither he as a journalist nor me.” like what I was”, while highlighting the communicator’s ability to “win the affection of the people”.
For his part, the current leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has praised the figure of the Galician presenter as a “reference” who has “brightened everyone’s lives.” “Illustrious resident of Padron, like Cela and Rosalía, was loved and respected by his colleagues. Rest in peace, friend Pepe,” he said.
“You couldn’t be a better person. What silence it leaves,” said the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, while the president of the Andalusian Government, Juan Moreno, highlighted the “unmistakable and unforgettable voice.” of the communicator, an “ingenious” person, passionate about sports and music.
The presidents of the Valencia Community and the Region of Murcia, Carlos Mazón and Fernando López Miras, respectively, have also lamented the “sad loss” of the “legend and genius of radio.” “His unique voice and his passion for football will leave a void in the sports world, the radio will never sound the same again,” Mazón wrote.
Likewise, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has defined Castaño as a “good friend.” “A communication professional like few others, a man who lived and felt the radio. And a good friend. The joy he transmitted will always remain with us. This is how I will remember you. All my love for his family,” the councilor has transferred on his networks. social with an image in which they are together.
The president of the Congress and general secretary of the PSIB, Francina Armengol, for her part, has asserted that the presenter “accompanied and encouraged for decades” through radio and television, “always seeking to innovate and move forward.”
“A master of the radio and a master of life for me,” the former president of the Government Mariano Rajoy has also claimed in a message on the social network X in which he has included a photograph with the communicator.
Cultural personalities have also published farewell messages to Castaño, among them the singer Julio Iglesias, who has addressed his “dearest Pepe” assuring that he will never be able to forget him. “You have left without a farewell that has left my soul in suspense (…). Dearest friend, we will see each other again in eternity,” he stressed.
