PEABODY — WBZ-Radio personality Morgan White Jr. gave 96-year-old Generosa Aiello a welcome phone call this week.
White told Aiello the news station's fired overnight host Steve LeVeille would return to the airwaves.
"Oh, was I happy," said Aiello, a longtime listener and weekly phone-in guest. "When I heard it on (Morgan's) program, I cried like a baby. He's like a son to me."
LeVeille will return Monday to his midnight to 5 a.m. spot, according to a news story on the station's Web site.
The AM radio station cut "The Steve LeVeille Broadcast" in December, leaving devoted followers like Aiello heartbroken.
LeVeille told the station he never expected to get the call and credited listeners for helping in his return.
Ben Goodman, organizer of the "Bring Back Steve" campaign, said he could hardly believe the station reversed its decision.
"We're ecstatic, absolutely," he said.
The University of Maine freshman said about 1,100 people went to the Web site, www.bringbacksteve.com, and sent messages to the station and its advertisers.
"I think it just shows New England listeners hold their sources of media to a higher standard than a lot of other markets," he said. "(Station managers) did credit our Internet campaign."
Aiello said LeVeille's replacement, Jon Grayson, whose nationally syndicated show "Overnight in America" aired from St. Louis, just wasn't for locals. She received numerous calls and letters from fellow listeners commiserating with her about the loss of LeVeille.
But she doesn't need any consolation now.
"I was thrilled to pieces," she said. "I've been listening to these boys for a long time."
Aiello planned to tune in Monday, but may hold off calling.
"Everyone thinks I have a special line, but I don't," she said. "I'm going to call him back. If I can get through, I will be surprised."
The 96-year-old did plan to call next Friday to offer her signature "Friday, Friday" greeting to LeVeille.
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
