Stu Nahan, LA Sports Announcer, Dies of Lymphoma, At Age 81
Los Angeles television and radio sports announcer Stu Nahan passed away this week at the age of 81. Nahan was battling lymphoma for sometime. Nahan has a long and incredible life story that included announcing sports he loved as well as appearing in some very popular movies.
After a stint in the minor hockey league as a goalie, Stu met Bob Kelley who agreed to teach him about the world of sports broadcasting. In 1956, Stu got his first play-by-play job on the radio for the Modesto Reds. Shortly after, he ended up getting a job as a sports reporter on KCRA in Sacramento after calling the station and complaining about the sports reporting. He worked in Sacramento and then Philadelphia before returning to LA in 1968. Stu’s television sports announcing career took off in 1968 when he did the evening sports reports for KABC-TV in LA. He moved to KNBC-TV in 1977 and KTLA-TV in 1988. During those years he appeared in movies as a sports commentator including Brian’s Song, the Rocky films and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Stu Nahan retired from TV announcing in 1999. He served as president of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters organization in 1990, 1991 and then thereafter 1996.
His memorial service is being planned in Los Angeles. His wife, children and grandchildren are certainly trying to figure out the best way to memorialize such a great man. For information on how to put together a creative way to cope with loss and memorialize a loved one read “Creative Grieving a Good Way to Help with Loss.â€
Photo from LA Times.
December 27th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Hello;
I grew up with Stu Nahan and his Family; I was his sons Casey’s best friend, he also has a son named Mick, and his Daughter Marcie that passed away over 20 years ago from an Eplipsy attack.
I remember the Great times that Stu took his son Casey and myself to Dodger games and King games, also to live broadcasts.
I’m so sorry to hear that Stu passed away, he was a Great person.
I even remember on day the Kings had a practice and Stu practiced with them, and before the practice Cowboy Bill Flett, told Stu to keep his head up, and the first shot Bill Fleet took on Stu Nahan it hit him in the mouth by accident, and Stu took 4 stitches and had to do the news with Cannel 7 sports and he did it but his mouth shewed up with his injury, the funny part about it is that his wife didn’t know about it, and saw Stu on TV that night with his mouth stitched up, and she asked Casey and myself what happened, and Stu told us not to say a thing, so Casey and I played it off.
Well Good Luck to the Nahan Family;
Jeff