Longtime KIRO midday host Dori Monson has died at the age of 61.
The Seattle radio legend reportedly suffered from a medical issue on Thursday, December 29th, before passing away on December 31st at a Seattle hospital.
“We, along with Dori’s family, are mourning his loss,” said Bonneville Seattle Senior Vice President and Market Manager Cathy Cangiano. “We are working on on-air tributes to memorialize and celebrate his life and legacy.”
Monson began his storied Seattle career with KING-TV and KING-AM in 1982 before migrating to KIRO in the early 1990s. He also worked as the pre-game and post-game host for the Seattle Seahawks radio broadcasts.
Monson hosted from 12:00-3:00 PM on the Seattle station — which finished the fall ratings period as the second highest-rated station in the market — and was widely viewed as the city’s longest conservative radio voice.
“Seattle is a very liberal place,” he told Barrett News Media’s Jim Cryns earlier this year. “I think people view me here as someone who can help balance the rest of the media. I have things to discuss that aren’t political. I want to be a companion for people stuck in traffic. Make them laugh. I take a great deal of pride in that.”
According to the station, Monson leaves behind a wife and three daughters.
In addition to his work at KIRO, Monson was the coach of the Shorecrest High School girls basketball team from 2010 to 2017, winning the 2016 Washington AA State Championship.
