Larry Johnson, a beloved former radio host on WEEI who was additionally a longtime sports activities editorial cartoonist, has died. He was 75.
Johnson was the co-host of “Mustard & Johnson” together with Craig Mustard. The present was a staple on WEEI’s weekend sports activities discuss for many years.
The previous Stoughton resident, who lived in Canton for the previous few years, was additionally a gifted illustrator. His cartooning abilities led him to a longtime profession as a sports activities editorial cartoonist on the Boston Globe, ESPN.com Quickie Web page, WEEI.com, and the Nationwide Sports Each day.
Lots of Johnson’s former colleagues at WEEI have been fondly remembering him on Tuesday.
“So sorry to hear of the passing of our friend Larry Johnson…just a wonderful guy who was loved by everybody he had no enemies quite an accomplishment in our business,” Glenn Ordway posted. “… he was a brilliant cartoonist an accomplished artist & a pretty darn good talk show host and made it just so easy to call him your friend…RIP LJ”
So sorry to listen to of the passing of our buddy Larry Johnson…only a great man who was beloved by everyone he had no enemies fairly an accomplishment in our enterprise..he was a superb cartoonist an completed artist & a fairly darn good discuss present host and made it simply so… https://t.co/Q2kNO0V6tp
— Glenn Ordway (@GlennDOrdway) November 19, 2024
Jon Meterparel stated Johnson was a “kind, talented man who’s laugh was contagious and who’s smile was always present.”
“We worked together many times @WEEI and he never had a bad day,” Meterparel added. “He’ll be missed by all who knew him.”
Larry Johnson was a form, gifted man who’s snicker was contagious and who’s smile was all the time current. We labored collectively many instances @WEEI and he by no means had a foul day. He’ll be missed by all who knew him.
— Jon Meterparel (@meatstweets) November 19, 2024
Gerry Callahan posted, “He was in the talk radio and newspaper business for 40 years and somehow never made an enemy. Just a wonderful big bear of a man who was always the first to reach out in good times and bad. And a really great cartoonist. RIP, LJ.”
He was within the discuss radio and newspaper enterprise for 40 years and someway by no means made an enemy. Only a great large bear of a person who was all the time the primary to succeed in out in good instances and dangerous. And a very nice cartoonist.
RIP, LJ. https://t.co/7Q6R2lT4Py
— Gerry Callahan (@GerryCallahan) November 19, 2024
Johnson was a business artist for greater than 40 years. Whereas attending the Faculty of the Museum of Wonderful Arts, he took a job on the Globe.
“The Globe took me under its wing and became my family,” his LinkedIn web page reads. “It was at the Globe that I became the Editorial Sports Cartoonist. I quickly learned that if you are going to be an editorial cartoonist, you have to check your feelings and friendships at the door. One of the reasons I don’t like meeting athletes is because it’s easy for me to like people, thereby making it difficult to poke fun at them when I have to…and I have to all of the time!”
“They say that comedy and tragedy are so closely related that if the idea is delivered well enough, your audience laughs instead of cries, and cries when laughing doesn’t get the job done,” he wrote. “The secret, of course, is to perform root canals in such a way that your fans are grateful that the pain is gone, and forgetful that they ever had the fear of having the procedure done in the first place — That’s cartooning!”
Johnson died peacefully at Bay Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Middle in Brockton, based on his obituary. He was the beloved husband of greater than 45 years of Sharon Chandler Johnson.
“Larry’s family were his pride and joy,” his obituary reads. “He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who loved spending time with his wife, children and his beloved grandchildren. He enjoyed family gatherings, fine art, walking his dog, a new word a week, traveling and volunteering as a youth minister and evangelist.”
Visiting hours might be held on the Farley Funeral Residence, 358 Park St. (Route 27) in Stoughton on Nov. 25 from 9 to 10:30 a.m., adopted by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will observe at Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton.
