It has been confirmed by the Channel 95 KJR radio OFC group that Les Parsons has passed. We first heard this sad news from Gordon Wood, who was a friend and neighbor of Les in the boating community where they lived in Hawaii. It took several days before word of Les’ official passing filtered down to the Pacific Northwest. Per Gordon Wood, in his original message to QZVX: “Les (Parsons) died Tuesday October 20, 2020, passing away aboard his yacht moored in the Ala Wai Harbor, in Waikiki, Hawaii. He had been in failing health for an extended period. He will be missed as one of the more irascible members of our little community.”
January 22, 2022 at QZVX
Maureen Compton Hannum says:
Les Parsons – may he rest in eternal peace.
November 2, 2020 at QZVX
Pw says:
What a great news voice. rip.
October 28, 2020 at QZVX
Steven Smith says:
It has been confirmed by the KJR OFC that Les has passed. Thanks Gary Burleigh.
October 27, 2020 at QZVX
Brooks Burford says:
Les Parsons was on KISN, Portland…. then came up to KJR. I remember listening to him and “Wendy” in the KJR Traffic Copter afternoons.
October 26, 2020 at QZVX
gary says:
He had the talent and delivery which would have been welcome in the biggest and best newsrooms.
October 26, 2020 at QZVX
DT says:
He will be missed.
October 24, 2020 at QZVX
Lin Vargo says:
So sorry to hear of Les’s passing.
October 24, 2020 at QZVX
Reg White says:
Sadly, our community has lost a fine friend and member, May we all remember the fine times we all had at the legislature doing our best to preserve boating for Hawaii. Aloha Les! Amen
October 23, 2020 at QZVX
zues says:
Worked in the mornings right next to him. Quite, very into his craft, and a top notch newscaster. Think he may have been friends with Homer Pope. Wonder if it was the boat he was building back in the 70’s.
October 23, 2020 at QZVX
lonergan says:
One of the best I ever heard at “authoritative” style news delivery.
October 23, 2020 at QZVX
Edgar Bennett says:
What a year this has been.
October 29, 2020 at QZVX
christopher sutton says:
Les Parsons, the inimitable…friend, issue oriented, knowledgeable raconteur of peripatetic perspective, curmudgeon; over the decade we were close neither of us could have imagined current insanity, though we considered one another straight past eclectic to eccentric. Most eccentrics live life on our own terms, to somewhat more than slight avoidance, by passers by. When two such find ourselves circumstantially, daily companions within environment not of our own choosing (workplace survival), let alone 4, 5, 6, 7, more of us, daily ritual is mixed or stirred with spontaneity / wit. (such was Doc Freeman’s crew–customer; “I just need a little advice”—“Mike originated, but Les loved prognostication; “sell the boat and get a Winnebago”…)
Les was high theater of absurd observation–which has only exacerbated since. Having not spoken with Les of recent years, he would certainly recommend we seek out risen examples today extant; (for-from, Les): https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/07/07/in-an-insane-world-madness-looks-moderate-and-sanity-looks-radical/. (picture tells all, and as Les and I completely agreed)