RIP Lew Latto: 1940-2011

It’s being reported that local broadcast legend Lew Latto passed today while preparing for work.

21 Comments

Codie

about 13 years ago

Isn't that the guy who was adamantly opposed to multi-use trails, bike lanes, and high-speed rail?

Tom

about 13 years ago

I'm sorry to hear of his passing.  However, I'm not sorry to see the Beck/Limbaugh/Hannity of Duluth go off the air.

Jadiaz

about 13 years ago

Perhaps the, If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all, rule should be in force here. You didn't have to like the guy, or his radio show, but that doesn't mean you should be finding ways to rip on him passive aggressively in his death. To quote Danny about the comments above, "Classy."

Rij

about 13 years ago

As one of Lew's closest friends (and a liberal to boot!), thank you Jadiaz for your comment.  Well said. I hope future comments are a little more compassionate.

Chad

about 13 years ago

It's always a shame when someone passes.  No matter their views or attitude, or whether you agree with them, just remember they've got family and friends and cared for them and will miss them dearly.  I'm sure that's the case with Mr. Latto.  RIP.

Tom

about 13 years ago

Yeah Danny, because you're known for you respectful, civilized, appropriate, and tasteful comments on this website.  But I'll digress because this isn't the place to get into that.

Anyway, as I said, it's sad to see a local broadcasting legend die.  From what I've heard, it seems that he was a pretty good guy.  And, as others have said, it's always sad when somebody dies.  But when I die, I'd like people to think of me the way I was when I was alive, not say stuff in a phony, artificial way they'd never talk about me when I was alive.  If you don't like me, then hell, don't all of a sudden act like you do when I'm dead.

Just my 2 cents.  I'm sure others disagree with me on that, and that's perfectly fine with me.

Danny G

about 13 years ago

You just lumped him, Limbaugh, Beck, and Hannity in the same boat.  Anyoneone who would do that knows nothing about talk radio, much less Latto.  I normally really like your comments here, Tom.  But that one was just flat-out dumb (and lacked class).

Jadiaz

about 13 years ago

No one's saying that you need to say things you don't really believe, or are phony or artificial. All anyone on here is saying  is why go out of your way to say something mean? If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything. The guy is dead, taking jabs at him now is just low. You chose to come on and celebrate his departure from the airwaves by prefacing it with an I'm sorry he's dead comment. The however statement wasn't neccesary except to be a jerk.

Tom

about 13 years ago

I see that people I don't even know are now telling me what I do and do not know, how I feel, what my motivations are, and how I should act, so I think I'll respectfully withdraw from this argument as I'm sure it's only going to get a lot worse and this is supposed to be about the life and death of Lew Latto, not a silly argument like this.

Danny G

about 13 years ago

I have to admit.  This is probably a great tribute to LL.  Senseless bickering that has nothing to do with the original topic.  RIP.

adam

about 13 years ago

The one time I met him at him at his house he was a nice guy. And an obvious "Naturist."

Jim

about 13 years ago

Lew Latto was an institution in this town. Sort of a local Paul Harvey. He was also a remarkable business man who has supported our economy for years with the radio stations he owned and the employees he hired to staff them. He was business savy, smart with a dollar and a welcome conservative voice in a bastion of crazy liberals. He was a program manager for WKLK before he graduated from High School! He came from an era that embraced wholesome values and real journalistic integrity. He carried that through to the day he passed. He will be missed and remembered fondly.

Bad Cat!

about 13 years ago

Trashing someone is best left for something other than their obituary.

Claire

about 13 years ago

I don't see anyone making personal attacks upon  the recently deceased. Mr. Latto was a mildly controversial public figure and people are expressing their opinions about his public persona, or rather his radio show.

jim

about 13 years ago

It's shrimp night here at the Elbow Room at PDD. Why would ANYBODY...

Danny G

about 13 years ago

"It's shrimp night here at the Elbow Room at PDD"...what????

jim

about 13 years ago

It's free-wheelin Friday Danny!

Danny G

about 13 years ago

I'm just trying to figure out what you were going for with the "...at the Elbow Room at PDD" part.

Slingfade

about 13 years ago

I was sad to hear about Ted Kennedy dying, but damn was I glad to see him out of the U.S. Senate.

Nope, doesn't even sound good when you insert a liberal in there.

Looseman

about 10 years ago

Sadly, I have just learned the news about Lew's passing. I still stay up on local news through the DNT app and saw today the flash back about the Buddy Holly concert and the mention of the "late" Lew Latto being emcee. I did a search about his passing and came across this site. After reading the posts I decided to sign up and add my comment. 

First off, it's a disgrace to see idiots posting negative things on the day of a local legend's death. Shame on those who did. 

Secondly, and most importantly, Lew Latto will be remembered by myself and many others as an amazing person who achieved amazing things during his lifetime. Way more than most in Duluth and way more than most anywhere. 

And a parting question for you passive/aggressives as one post pointed out -- which is so prevalent in Duluth -- what have you done in your life that is more impressive than what Lew accomplished? I know I'm commenting on an old story, but Lew isn't a story, he is a Northland legend who will not be forgotten.

Leave a Comment

Only registered members can post a comment , Login / Register Here

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!
Read previous post:
The Blasphemists at Teatro Zuccone, Aug. 25

The Blasphemists are playing Teatro on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5. The Blasphemists interbreed rock, gutter...

Close