Dan Avey, longtime radio reporter, dies at 69
Dan Avey, a longtime reporter and anchor on several Southern California radio stations and a former radio and television analyst with the Los Angeles Kings, has died. He was 69.
Avey died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications from prostate cancer, said his daughter, Kim Clemens.
Avey spent seven seasons with the Kings, from 1969 until 1976. He also worked in the Kings' front office in 1973.
During his radio career in Southern California, Avey primarily worked at KFWB, KFI and KABC as a reporter and anchor for news and sports. He earned 15 Golden Mike awards. He also taught at USC and Cal State Northridge.
Daniel Sumner Avey was born April 26, 1941, in Spokane, Wash., and raised in Whittier. He attended California High in Whittier, then returned to Washington to attend Gonzaga University. He graduated in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
Avey spent 1966-68 in the Army and served in Vietnam as a member of the Green Berets.
His first radio job was at Spokane, Wash., station where he was billed as disc jockey Danny Morrow.
Avey's survivors include his wife, Michele Davis-Avey; three other children, Kristin Romano, Ally Avey and Jennifer Avey; six grandchildren and brothers Mike and Tom.
Services are pending.
-- Keith Thursby
Photo: Dan Avey
I am so sorry to hear of Dan's passing. We never met but a few years ago when I was doing some genealogy I called him and we went over our families. I sent him some info I had and we tried to figure out the connection. He was so nice to take the time to talk we me. I am only sorry we never got to meet. I am sure he was a wonderful man.
Ruth Avey Stewart
Posted by: Ruth Avey Stewart | 08/16/2010 at 01:45 PM
I am so sorry to hear of Dan's passing. We never met but a few years ago I was doing some genealogy and called him. We went over our families and tried to figure out how and if we were connected. He was so nice to take the time to talk with me. I am sorry I never had the chance to meet him. I am sure he was a wonderful man.
Ruth Avey Stewart
Posted by: Ruth Avey Stewart | 08/16/2010 at 01:52 PM
Dan Avey was a true professional and a great storyteller. He will be missed.
Posted by: Pete Moraga | 08/16/2010 at 03:35 PM
A few points are missing from Dan's obit-- like multiple Golden Mic Awards and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! I know you can't fit everything into the paper, but how do you leave that out?
Posted by: Doug McIntyre | 08/17/2010 at 01:25 PM
Hi Doug, the fourth paragraph of this item includes this sentence: "He earned 15 Golden Mike awards." And we ran a photo of him with his Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the print edition and the full online version of the story. The link is here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passigns.jpg-20100817,0,2458287.photo
Posted by: Claire Noland | 08/17/2010 at 02:30 PM
I remember Dan when on the Doug McIntyre morning show on KABC radio. I used to listen to them as I was getting ready for work every morning in a few years ago. Dan was very informative and combined well Doug.
Posted by: David Rubenhold | 08/17/2010 at 05:53 PM
Dan, a great guy...no question. While waterskiing on Lake Coeur d'Alene, in Idaho, he took a 'header'. Luckily we had the video camera rolling. Rumor has it that when he surfaced, with every single hair in place and a big smile, he made his real fortune selling the video. I will miss him.
Posted by: Starr Kelso | 08/21/2010 at 12:03 PM
I was so sorry to hear about Danny...Ben and Marion were such good friends of John and myself...am remembering when he caddied for me in my first City Championship in Spokane--I was about 16 or 17 and Dan about 12...such good memories of all the Aveys..my prayers to his family..
Posted by: Nancy (Roberts) Halin | 08/21/2010 at 09:17 PM
Starr, there will be a memorial service for Dan tomorrow at 4 pm at Sportsman Lodge. any chance we could get that video clip to play at the service?
Posted by: jim osborne | 08/26/2010 at 10:27 AM