Larry Lujack Dies

1940-2013

As ALL ACCESS broke late last night (NET NEWS 12/18), radio has lost a legend. LARRY LUJACK, the CHICAGO personality known as “SUPERJOCK” and “UNCLE LAR,” died WEDNESDAY in NEW MEXICO. LUJACK, best known for his time at WLS-A and WCFL, was 73.

JUDITH “JUDE” LUJACK told THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, "her husband had been in hospice care for three days and died of esophageal cancer," and added, "how much her husband enjoyed his retirement in NEW MEXICO, where’d he’d lived the last 15 years, teaching his grandchildren how to golf and enjoying the mountainous views. 'He was passionate … about everything that he did, whether it was helping neighbors or taking care of charities,' she said. 'We’re really hurting right now'.”

THE TRIBUNE notes LUJACK had requested that his body be donated to the NEW MEXICO MEDICAL CENTER for research, which his wife called a demonstration of his compassion.

“He wasn’t defined by being a Hall of Famer or a superjock, he was defined by being the man that he was, and he was an amazing human being,” JUDY LUJACK said.

LUJACK leaves behind a daughter, a son, a stepson and two grandchildren. Another son preceded him in death.

CUMULUS SVP/Corporate Programming and WLS-F/CHICAGO PD JAN JEFFRIES told ALL ACCESS, "JUDY LUJACK called me from SANTA FE with the sad news. JUDY said she hopes LARRY will be remembered as a great humanitarian as much as a HALL OF FAME talent.

"I got to know LARRY well as he stretched out almost everyday on the couch he donated to my office during my first tenure as PD in the mid 80s.  He read the papers and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED while giving an occasional opinion of programming. It was a hoot! I can still hear LAR' saying, 'Well little buddy, there you go again with one of those new fangled ideas of yours.' LARRY may be gone from this world, however, his influence, humor and hilarious air checks will remain forever. GOD's speed, LARRY."

Want to share a story or comment about LARRY LUJACK?  You can do it below.

And if you want to see some terrific video of LARRY, check out ART VUOLO's WLS/CHICAGO "Rewind" Tribute - MEMORIAL DAY, 2008, when you click here.

BIG APPLE AIRCHECKS honcho MATT SEINBERG is already prepping a ribute to LUJACK which should be posted soon. If you have stories, pictures or audio you'd like to share, contact him at matt@bigappleairchecks.com.

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