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.
