Reality TV celeb and Sarasota resident Jerry Springer dies at 79
Jerry Springer, a former reality TV celebrity, Cincinnati mayor and lawyer, has died at 79.
Widely known for his syndicated talk show, “The Jerry Springer Show,” he captivated daytime television viewers for 26 years.
Springer has owned a home in Sarasota’s Bird Key since 2000, when he and his wife were looking to leave Cincinnati for somewhere near the water.
“When she hit upon Sarasota, she said, “Oh my gosh, it’s beautiful here!” She picked out 10 houses, and I flew down to spend the day looking at her choices. The 10th house was the one, and we loved it. We’ve been here for 17 years now, and we thoroughly love it — we’re right on the water, and it’s great”, Springer said in a 2015 interview with Premier Sotheby’s Realty.
He also said the house is their primary residence, and they enjoyed going to St. Armand’s Circle, downtown restaurants and the opera.
His favorite beach was Lido, where he said he enjoyed walking along the sand rather than sunbathing.
Springer said then that he spends a lot of time between Sarasota and Chicago because his daughter and grandson still live there, but said, “Sarasota is our home.”
Springer died in Chicago on Thursday following a “brief illness,” according to People magazine.
