Shot In The Dark: John Lundell

August 15, 2005

John Lundell

It saddens me to note that John Lundell passed away over the weekend.

Former Twin Cities traffic reporter John Lundell - a familiar rush hour voice for many motorists - died suddenly at home on Saturday night, WCCO Radio reported today. He was 52.

Lundell was the voice of radio traffic reports for more than 25 years on a number of local stations...Lundell was a graduate of Minnehaha Academy and Brown Institute, WCCO reported. Funeral arrangements are pending.

In an industry full of crushingly dysfunctional people, John Lundell was a good, genuine, stand up guy.

I knew John during the mid-eighties, when he ran the local Metro Traffic affiliate. He ran a difficult business - providing moment by moment traffic feeds to dozens of radio stations - and ran it very well. And yet he was never too busy to say hi, to catch up on things, to grab a few minutes between appointments or reports to chat you up about how things were going.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Lundell family.

Posted by Mitch at August 15, 2005 12:04 PM | TrackBack

Comments

I dont' think Lundell was a pilot - in fact, we don't have any pilot-reporters in town, since Art Reeder left the airwaves.

But for whatever reason, traffic seems to be like sports; everyone in the business knows everyone, even the competitors are often friends.

Not sure. All I know was John was a great guy.

Posted by: mitch at August 15, 2005 01:59 PM

John Lundell was my father, and I am very happy to see the positive comments on this page about him. He was the best guy I knew and will ever know. I loved him a lot. Thanks.

Jennie

Posted by: Jennie at August 21, 2005 08:28 PM

Sweet, sentimental things might get my eyes to well up once in a great while, but it takes something tragic to actually make me weep. When I heard the words, "John Lundell died yesterday..." I sat stunned, paralyzed for the hideous moment it took for my brain to register the sunken-heart reality of what was just said.

"John Lundell died yesterday..."

I just buckled over sobbing. I really loved that guy. John Lundell was the greatest! An incredibly special human being. We lost touch after radio left me, but I have always thought the world of him.

John Hines, Lundell and I went out on many a mid-day adventure during those years when he was such a big part of our show. Boating on Minnetonka, scarfing down buckets of Art Songs Chicken Wings, laughing my ass off trying to keep up with those two lightning wits. Lundell was fricken HILARIOUS. He added SO much to our show.

Like too many others, I lost touch with John after I left the radio biz in 2000, but many times I thought about sending him a thoughtful and heartfelt email, just to tell him that I miss him, let him know how much I appreciated what he brought to my life during those years, and wish him and Pam all the best. Dammit.

John Lundell was a class act all the way, and I am so sad to know he's gone. We shared many big belly laughs during my K102 Morning Show years. He was an absolute stitch. I deeply regret losing touch over the years, but I also feel very blessed to have known him.

Posted by: Gino Ruberto at August 24, 2005 03:03 AM

John Lundell was an addict, whether it be food, , or alcohol. What a waste of skin.

Posted by: Mr. Right at August 24, 2005 08:13 PM

Thank you everyone for you positive comments. My father died about a month ago, now, and forever he is still remembered as the best guy I ever knew.

Posted by: Jennie Lundell at September 18, 2005 09:27 AM