(KIRO Newsradio) Dori’s career in radio started in 1982 at the University of Washington, and included work at KING-TV, KING Radio and at KIRO since the early 1990s. A man of deep faith and a fierce advocate for girls’ sports for more than 25 years, Dori coached Shorecrest High School to its first state girls basketball title in 2016. Monson passed away Saturday night at a Seattle hospital.
John Curley hosted a 9-hour salute to the memory of Dori Monson. Here is a clip from the KIRO broadcast…
John Curley – 1/2/2023 – Saying Goodbye To Dori Monson (7:26) – Audio from KIRO 97.3 FM
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January 1, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
A written statement from Bonneville International, which owns KIRO-FM, said Monson suffered a “cardiac event” at home Thursday and was hospitalized.
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Brandi Kruse shares some thoughts about Dori…. https://brandikruse.locals.com/upost/3293786/dori-monson-was-the-fighter-washington-needed
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
Louis says:
Very sad to hear this. I know what a devoted family man he was and pray for his wife and daughters.
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
John Ross says:
Dear God, without Dori Monson here, WHO will keep the ‘Guvna’ Jay Inslee in-check?!!!
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
John Curley is heading up a nine hour salute to Dori today on KIRO 97.3 FM. Media personalities are calling in with comments and memories of Dori Monson, Curley fielding calls and sharing in the chat. Love him or hate him, people generally feel the gravity of this loss. The consensus is Dori is irreplaceable, obviously.
The time slot has to be filled. Who should take the mic at KIRO FM? I’m going to suggest what might be an unpopular name: Brandi Kruse, maybe Brian Suits.
January 3, 2023 at QZVX
Louis says:
Most importantly to his wife and daughters Dori’s passing is a sad and huge loss. The loss of Dori Monson as a voice against out of control taxation, spending, and policies deeply embedded in identity politics in Washington state is, I believe, even bigger than him. Will Bonneville replace him with a voice that legitimately questions government rather than parrots a left leaning media that plays softball at news conferences? Hard to say. I would hope so. Dori’s ratings are indicative of a loyal following that I hope Bonneville would consider. Off hand I can’t think of a host that has his unique breadth of knowledge of politics, sports, current events, and the ability to mix it all with a variety of unrelated entertaining topics. As they say he will be a tough cat to follow.
January 3, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
You would have to go outside the market and pay some bucks to get a talent equal to Dori. But, the knowledge of Washington State and Seattle politics and people would not be equaled.
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Reports are that Dori had other health issues that could have contributed to the massive heart attack that took him down. Shocking news, for sure.
January 3, 2023 at QZVX
T.K. says:
I was taken aback by a couple of the more recent photos of him. Almost unrecognizable. It reminded me of how Jerry Lewis puffed up when they put him on Prednisone. (Dave Niehaus looked that way before his massive heart attack as well.)
Anyway, I thought Curley did a great job on that marathon tribute. I’m afraid it will be a long time (if ever) that another entertainer like Dori is found. Curley is one, but everyone else is just so damn dull.
I was thinking about how the industry has changed since Dori started at KIRO. Except for a brief interlude by Lee Rodgers, Dori was essentially the replacement for Jim French on the KIRO roster. That’s how long ago it was! The station was live and local nearly 24-7 and the news department was formidable.
While KIRO is a shell of its former self, you do have to give Bonneville credit for continuing the local talk format as well as they have.
January 3, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Meds do more harm than they are worth sometimes.
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
John Ross says:
I’ve been glued to 97.3 FM since about 9:15AM today, and KUDO’s to John Curley for doing a wonderful, masterful job in presenting Dori Monson’s Memoriam. Tears and smiles have filled the air today. Just a few minutes ago, John remarked, paraphrasing, “we don’t get a 2nd shot at life, we’re all here on a fragile, thin string, so live life!” And I will add… please, everyone, think twice about taking any of those ‘safe & effective’ shots because your life literally depends on your decision. The narrative being pushed for getting them isn’t in your best interests. R.I.P. Dori.
January 7, 2023 at QZVX
Angie says:
I am curious – what shots are you referring to that Dori had? Covid? I am in such a sad state – Dori made us feel like he was family and such a large presence in our lives. I listened as often as I could and just loved Dori’s shows. Can’t imagine who can come close to Dori. Missing him and prayers to his family – such an unexpected passing.
January 8, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
There have been thousands of “unexpected passings” of people in their 20s, 30, 40s since the Covid vaccine shots have been handed out like candy. Blood clots, heart attacks. Even football players and other athletes have died or suffered strokes etc. Of course, it’s only a conspiracy theory, to tie the vax with the sudden rise in death by heart attack, stroke and blood clots. Conspiracy theory supported by doctors. Proponents of the vax and drinkers of that Kool-Aid will poo-poo all the statistics.
https://qzvx.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/she-has-had-several-covid-shots.mp4
https://qzvx.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tucker-cardiac-arrest-deaths.mp4
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Updated post to include audio: That short speech that John Curley started the 3:00 hour with, prior to introducing David Rose of FOX 13, was very touching. The audio is from the KIRO special 9-hour salute to Dori.
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
Peter says:
Remember peasants, take your vaccine! Can’t have people dying suddenly without it. Literally.
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
We may never know for certain, there may be some that will never face justice for their crimes. History will be rewritten to cover their crimes anyway.
January 2, 2023 at QZVX
John Ross says:
Jason, good to see you on top of the game, calling it out for what it is. I was just perusing some of the older Victor Stredicke material from the 1970-71 era, when I was at KUUU with R.C. Bannon, Dave Day, ‘Gary Loving’ (Gary Spinnell), Bob Joy, Bill Rice, etc. Great stuff man! Yep, I was the one who took KUUU’s front desk receptionist, hot pantsed Rosmary Smith, in the helicopter – rented from Eddie Lamotta’s Olympic Helocopters on the South end of Boeing Field over to Harbor Island and dropped off my aircheck “special air delivery” – it was a gas! The Bob Hamilton Radio Report of that era, 1972, captured the whole deal on the front page. I wonder WHO might have a copy of the mag they’ed allow me to copy, as I lost my several copies in the moves I made during that time between Seattle and KPUG/1170-AM Bellingham, where I landed as PD and afternoon drive-time jock upon Randy Evans’ departure to KJRB. Anyways, Pat O’Day and I spoke several times after that, and he would’ve hired me, but they had to meet their EEOC hiring criteria. As it worked out, all was well. I later ended up beside my TVTI (Tacoma Voc-Tech Institute) radio instructor, Chuck Ellsworth, at KMO/Tacoma 1360-AM, doing news and jock work before heading out to my new gig as News Director at KXRO in Aberdeen, WA. Those were GREAT DAYS of radio and I miss them dearly. Finally, after several years at KXRO and then airport manager at the Elma Airport and running a Cessna Pilot Center/FBO, I returned to Seattle radio at KIXI-AM/FM doing mornings with Dean Smith and then afternoon drive on KIXI-Light FM from the 801 Tower Building.
January 3, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Football players can’t tackle another player without heart-stopping moments never before seen on Monday Night Football. It’s rare, but we may start seeing more near-death experiences. We probably need to follow the science.
January 3, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
When I read of careers like this, it makes me long for airchecks … Feel free to send one or two from any of these stations. Everybody loves those classic airchecks.
January 5, 2023 at QZVX
Paul Thompson says:
Tried to listen to John’s opening of hour number 3. (Heard it live on Monday and didn’t have enough Kleenex nearby to hear it again.) As real as radio ever gets. A remarkable tribute to a phenomenal person!
January 5, 2023 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
That hour 3 open is the audio here. Curley is good, sometimes great.