Anchor Dimitri Sotis, whose warm, conversational voice graced wtop for over 2 decades, dies at 55

WTOP evening anchor Dimitri Sotis, whose deep, warm voice informed and kept listeners in the DC region during storms, elections and breaking news, has died at age 55.

“It is with the greatest sadness and shock that I am writing this email to let you all know that our friend and colleague, Dimitri Sotis, has passed away,” said Joel Oxley, general manager of WTOP and president of Hubbard Radio Washington, DC , in an email to staff early Sunday.

Sotis was found unresponsive at her home in Alexandria, Virginia, late Saturday night.

Sotis was the evening anchor on WTOP for more than two decades; Listeners heard his characteristic sound on weekdays from 19.00 to 23.30

He informed listeners of the news affecting their communities, helped them navigate weather warnings and provided breaking news such as the 2024 election. Not only did he ensure listeners got the latest results and most up-to-date developments, but added context and perspectives.

Sotis conducted countless live interviews with news producers and conveyed a serious interest in any topic. He asked probing questions in a heartfelt way that got to the answers listeners needed to know.

Afternoon Drive Anchor Shawn Anderson said Sotis “especially shined in breaking news situations where you have to throw off the script and guide listeners through the fog and confusion.”

Sotis was among the anchors honored with the 2012 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Major Market Radio Newscast for coverage of the U.S. mission that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Sotis joined WTOP in 1999. WTOP National Security Correspondent JJ ​​Green recalled that Sotis approached him in a hotel lobby in the early 1990s at a journalism conference and Job Fair. Green referred him to an available internship at WMAL, where Green was working at the time.

“A month later he started working and never looked back,” Green said. “We’ve had a great brotherhood since that day. And I’ve seen him become the best in our business. I told him many times that he was the best news anchor in America and I truly believe that. “

The kid at school with a ‘pretend radio station’

Born Dimitri Sotiropoulos on December 6, 1969, he grew up in Muncie, Indiana, where he said he developed a love for his craft.

“Dimitri knew at the age of 10 that this was what he wanted to do. He was the kid in school with the pretend radio station in his basement,” according to his WTOP biography.

The son of Greek immigrants who moved to the United States for college, Sotis referred to his parents as the “only real heroes in his life.”

In a 2008 interview with Radio OlympusSaid Sotis: “My father taught me how to think critically, how to frame a situation.” Meanwhile, his mother taught him “how to behave properly in social situations, how to be organized and how important it is to do a job thoroughly and not cut corners.”

For years, Sotis visited Greece for a month every summer.

He graduated in 1992 from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications. He was hired as a producer and quickly became an anchor on the UPI Radio Network in the mid-1990s.

WTOP reporter Neal Augenstein worked with Sotis at Upi’s Washington Bureau, and he recognized Sotis’ talent from the start.

“From his incredible voice, to his calm, conversational delivery, you could tell he was already a ‘gentleman journalist’ back then,” Augenstein said.

Guiding the next WTOP generation

Many of Sotis’ colleagues woke up to the news of his passing on Sunday morning. Expressions of shock, disbelief and sadness echoed over a flurry of emails and text messages, sharing what happened the night before.

“Everybody you hear anchoring was taught by him,” said WTOP reporter John Domen. “A glue guy in the afternoon who was just so smooth and relaxed, yet he never sent it in.”

Oxley, the general manager, said that producer Mike Jakaitis told him that “Dimitri always checked and reviewed his work as an anchor every night as if it was his first shift – he was so interested.”

WTOP news writer Alicia Abelson worked closely with Sotis both as producer and associate producer. She remembered Sotis as someone who helped uplift and inspire those new to working in journalism.

“He was really interested in helping WTOP’s fresh faces find their voice,” Abelson said.

Bloomberg Radio Anchor Nathan Hager was trained by Sotis when he was at WTOP. Hager described him as “endlessly patient and generous with his knowledge.”

Kind soul with a bawdy laugh

“His last words to me during his busy Friday night were a ‘thank you’ text for ‘going above and beyond,'” WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller said.

Sotis had reached out to him after the confirmation of the new US defense secretary and asked if Miller could join him live to discuss the breaking news.

“He was just a wonderful person, with a goofy laugh and kind words for everyone,” Miller said.

WTOP reporter Mike Murillo said Sotis’ voice was “unmatched,” but he was also “the kindest soul.”

Producer Jakaitis worked with Sotis at WMAL and their friendship grew when both were at WTOP.

In 2005, Sotis won the Grand Prize in a WTOP Newsroom Contest—an all-expense paid cruise.

“We were so happy for him,” Jakaitis said. A few months later, when Sotis asked Jakaitis what he and his then-fiance planned to do for their honeymoon, Jakaitis said they were leaning toward a cruise.

“Right then he told me he wanted to give us the cruise he won as our wedding present. I was floored,” Jakaitis said. “I told him we couldn’t accept it, but he insisted. My wife Kellie and I will never forget what he did for us, but it was Dimitri. “

Murillo said Sotis was family to many in the newsroom.

“He was always doing something he could to really lift the morale of the newsroom and make sure everyone felt part of this radio family,” Murillo said.

WTOP Evening Sports Anchor Rob Woodfork and Sotis bonded over a shared love of “Burgundy and Gold” for the past 13 years.

“I hate that Dimitri wasn’t here to see the Chiefs return to the NFC Championship Game,” Woodfork said. “Dimitri was the best of us … you will be sorely missed my friend.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.

WTOP will honor Sotis’ legacy with a live hour-long radio special at 19 Monday 27 January.

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