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Warner Communications mourns the loss of Leslie “Les” Zucker, who passed away on October 14, 2025, at the age of 90.
Les was there from the beginning, a guiding hand and steady presence whose influence helped shape Warner into what it is today.
For more than half a century, Les represented the very best of Warner Communications: dedication, humility, craftsmanship, and a deep belief that people matter most. His leadership was never loud, but it was always felt: in the integrity of his work, the loyalty of his customers, and the generations of employees who learned from his example.
Les was known for his morning visits through the office, greeting everyone by name. His approach to business was simple but profound: do good work, treat people right, and always take care of your customers. “Everything I know about radio,” one longtime colleague once said, “I learned from Les Zucker.”
In a recorded conversation between Les and Steve Guller, Warner’s current president and son of co-founder Arthur Guller, the two reflected on those early days: on long hours spent in the shop, solving problems for customers by hand, and building relationships that lasted decades. The interview captures Les’s quiet humor and his unwavering belief that success comes from earning trust one handshake at a time.
Steve remembers:
“Les taught me that our reputation was built one handshake at a time—and that’s still how we do business today.”
Outside of work, Les loved the outdoors and time near the water: water-skiing, boating, or simply taking in the peace of a quiet lake with his family. Those close to him knew that same calm steadiness in his everyday life.
Les is survived by his wife, Marilyn, their three children, Michael (Zucker) and Colleen, Lori (Zucker) and Shawn Dougan, and Marc (Zucker) and Amy; by his sister, Diane Torgov; and by his grandchildren, Liam, Aidan, Graham, Arianna, Henry, Lana, Avi, and Julia. He was preceded in death by his parents, William “Bill” and Ethel Zucker.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, October 19, at 3:30 PM at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7811 Canton Avenue, University City, MO.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Spread Ari’s Light Foundation or a charity of your choice, honoring Les’s enduring spirit of compassion and generosity.
For full obituary details, please visit warnerfb.com/leszucker.
In 2023, we sat down with Les to talk about what kept him inspired after nearly 60 years with Warner Communications. That short video, filmed just before his retirement, now serves as a heartfelt snapshot of the values he carried every day.
