Bonneville News/Talk 97.3 KIRO-FM Tacoma/Seattle has announced the death of midday host Dori Monson at the age of 61.
A native of suburban Ballard WA, Monson suffered a cardiac event on Thursday, Dec. 29 and had been hospitalized since the event. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Monson spent his entire broadcasting career in Seattle starting in 1982 with stints at University of Washington’s 90.3 KCMU, King Broadcasting’s 1090 KING and KING-TV before joining KIRO as co-host of the Pat Cashman Show. He would take over the 12-3pm show in 1995 and added duties as pre and post-game host for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in 2002. Monson had been suspended by the station and the Seahwaks for three weeks in October 2020 for a transphobic tweet.
The KIRO Newsradio family and Bonneville International Corporation – along with the immediate family of Dori Monson – are deeply saddened to announce Dori’s sudden passing Saturday night at a Seattle hospital.
A longtime watchdog of government and social issues, Dori was known by his many listeners as a boy from the “mean streets of Ballard.” At the time of his passing Dori was KIRO-FM’s top-rated mid-day host.
“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.”
Dori’s career in radio started in 1982 at the University of Washington, and included work at KING-TV, KING Radio and at KIRO since the early 1990s. A man of deep faith and a fierce advocate for girls’ sports for more than 25 years, Dori coached Shorecrest High School to its first state girls basketball title in 2016.
Despite health issues over the past few years, Dori enjoyed deep sea fishing with KIRO and ESPN colleagues, and playing pickleball with his family. He leaves behind a wife, three adult daughters, a dog and many of his show’s loyal listeners.
