A Mobile area radio personality who utilized the medium to promote a small business he co-owned is being remembered as an “honest businessman,” “down-to-earth guy,” and a “brilliant thinker” whose passion for coin and jewelry collecting shined through during his public appearances.

Angelo Semifero, 56, died Sunday following a battle with cancer.

“He was a really nice guy … just a good guy,” said Sean Sullivan, owner of FM Talk 1065 radio station where Semifero and his business partner, Ron Marchlewski hosted the program “Two Guys and Some Change” since 2010.

The program focused on the duo’s love for their favorite hobbies – coin and stamp collecting, jewelry and precious metals, among other things.

That hobby was also part of Semifero’s full-time job as the co-owner Mobile Bay Coins & Fine Jewelry, founded in 2008.

Marchlewski said Semifero became a full-time partner in the business about four years ago, and was poised to take it over as its main owner upon his retirement.

“He never missed work,” said Marchlewski. “Even while fighting cancer, he never said “Why me?’ The guy fought until the end.”

Semifero was a constant presence on Mobile area radio programs hosted by Sullivan and Uncle Henry.

Marchlweski said Semifero was “good talker” who “loved being on the radio” and utilized his frequent on-air appearances to promote a small business that consists of approximately 10 employees on Mobile’s Government Street.

Sullivan said Semifero might have been among the most effective small business operators in Mobile to utilize radio to promote his enterprise.

“There are others to have done it,” he said. “But (Semifero and Marchlweski), they had an entertaining show and talked about their hobby as well as their profession. They were really excited about what they were talking about and it was real. That’s who Angelo was.”

Sullivan added, “I considered Angelo a friend and not just a client of the station. He was a person I learned a lot from over the years. We’ll really miss him.”

Semifero would also sometimes join Uncle Henry on his radio programs as a guest host and provide commentary about current events and politics.

Uncle Henry, in a Facebook post, called Semifero a “good neighbor, honest businessman, responsible citizen, loving friend, brilliant thinker, great great man.”

“The thing that stands out about him to me is how unusually well-rounded he was in general knowledge,” Uncle Henry, a longtime Mobile area media personality said in an interview Monday with AL.com.

Semifero’s parents did not allow him to watch TV while growing up, and that his knowledge came from books and listening to the radio, Uncle Henry said.

“All of that reading as a child made him extremely well-founded on so many topics,” he said. “He could talk about anything to anyone. I attribute that to reading.”

Marchlweski said Semifero’s natural ease with talking about coins and precious metals on the radio also was also on display inside the business while talking to customers.

“People get cranky in this business, and will come in and ask silly questions,” said Marchlweski. “Coin dealers have a reputation for having a bad attitude. But he answered everyone’s question with a smile. He liked talking. It’s hard to have him be offended.”

He added, “He was a natural for radio and a natural for running a business.”

Marchlweski said Mobile Bay Coins, in its 15 years of operations, and has “never lost money in a single year.”

“It had to do with Angelo being an awesome sales salesman,” he said. “The guy had a natural tact that was based on facts. I always appreciated it. He was naturally liked.”

A memorial service is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. on July 15 at Little Flower Catholic Church in Mobile.