Beloved Chicago Radio Host Judy Markey Dies at 82 After Years of Health Struggles

Judy Markey, the beloved Chicago radio personality who became one half of the groundbreaking “Kathy and Judy Show,” has died at 82.

Markey died September 11, 2026, in Switzerland after several years of living with a degenerative neurological disorder. She chose a medically assisted death surrounded by people close to her. Her longtime co-host and friend, Kathy O’Malley, said the decision was consistent with conversations the two women had openly shared during their years on the radio.

A Radio Partnership That Connected With Millions

Markey and O’Malley first teamed up on WGN in 1989.

What began as an experiment quickly developed into one of Chicago radio’s most recognizable programs. The “Kathy and Judy Show” ran for two decades, from 1989 to 2009, before returning for a weekend run from 2013 through 2017.

Their audience affectionately became known as “The Girlfriends.”

The show’s appeal came from the pair’s willingness to talk openly about everyday life. They could turn an embarrassing story into comedy one moment and discuss deeply personal experiences the next.

Their conversations made listeners feel as though they were spending time with close friends rather than simply listening to a radio program.

Judy Markey Was Also a Writer

Before becoming a radio star, Markey had already built a career as a writer.

She wrote columns for the Chicago Sun-Times and later published novels, including The Daddy Clock and Just Trust Me. She also wrote collections based on her newspaper columns.

Her journalism background helped shape the conversational style that eventually became such a defining part of her radio career.

Markey studied journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School and later became a member of the school’s Hall of Achievement.

A Friendship That Lasted Beyond the Show

Markey and O’Malley’s relationship extended far beyond their professional partnership.

After Markey’s passing, O’Malley remembered her longtime friend with affection and described the extraordinary bond they had developed through decades of working together.

Their chemistry had been one of the central reasons the show resonated so strongly with listeners, but their friendship became just as meaningful away from the microphone.

A Life Filled With Family and Adventure

Markey’s life extended well beyond broadcasting.

She lived in several countries during her younger years, raised two children and later married Northwestern professor emeritus Tom Collinger.

Friends remembered her as someone who loved travel, animals, laughter and spending time with the people around her.

Her family said she believed she had lived a full and rich life and had received more from it than she ev