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.”
Maureen Compton Hannum • January 22, 2022
Les Parsons – may he rest in eternal peace.
Pw • November 2, 2020
What a great news voice. rip.
Steven Smith • October 28, 2020
It has been confirmed by the KJR OFC that Les has passed. Thanks Gary Burleigh.
Brooks Burford • October 27, 2020
Les Parsons was on KISN, Portland…. then came up to KJR. I remember listening to him and “Wendy” in the KJR Traffic Copter afternoons.
gary • October 26, 2020
He had the talent and delivery which would have been welcome in the biggest and best newsrooms.
Lin Vargo • October 24, 2020
So sorry to hear of Les’s passing.
Reg White • October 24, 2020
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
zues • October 23, 2020
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.
lonergan • October 23, 2020
One of the best I ever heard at “authoritative” style news delivery.
Edgar Bennett • October 23, 2020
What a year this has been.
christopher sutton • October 29, 2020
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)