ANDORN, SIDNEY IGNATIUS (25 Sept. 1906-25 Sept. 1981), worked in newspapers, radio, and television during a journalism career spanning over 50 years. Born in Newark, Ohio, he moved to Cleveland in 1912. After graduating from WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY with a degree in English, he joined the CLEVELAND PRESS in 1929, soon writing Cleveland's first gossip column, "The Minute Review.'' In 1935 Andorn moved to RADIO, doing a gossip program for WGAR. Over the next 15 years he also did news commentaries and a groundbreaking "Open Forum'' program, in which listeners phoned in questions on civic issues to experts in the studio. In 1944, he won a commendation for his coverage of the EAST OHIO GAS CO. EXPLOSION AND FIRE.
Andorn entered TELEVISION in 1950 as program director for WXEL (later WJW). Later in his career he returned to Channel 8 as host of the "Cleveland Caucus" civic affairs program. Andorn wrote a column for the CLEVELAND NEWS from 1954 until its demise in 1960, when he returned to WGAR, doing news commentaries and the "Open Forum." A City Club member, he instituted its summer outdoor debates in the Cleveland Public Library's Eastman Garden. He also taught broadcast journalism and mass communications at CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Late in his career, Andorn's news commentaries were heard over WCLV-FM and his newspaper column appeared in the Sun suburban chain. Andorn was married to Jessie Brown Semple on 13 Aug. 1938. He died in CLEVELAND HEIGHTS and was survived by his second wife, the former Miriam Cramer, and a daughter, Dr. Anne Andorn.