Lanny Lee Larason – known professionally as Tom Larson during a long broadcasting career that spanned nearly four decades in Boston – died Wednesday of complications from cancer in Fredericksburg, Virginia, according to his son Jeff. He was 84 years old.
Larson, a Missouri native, came to Boston in 1969 as public affairs director at Channel 38. There he hosted a wide-ranging talk show of the same name and soon became a fixture among area sports fans as host of the Bruins’ preseason and Red Sox postgame programming.
During his time at Channel 38, Larson covered various Boston sports. His son wrote that he particularly enjoyed Channel 38’s “Mini One-on-One,” which pitted young hockey players against each other.
From 1981 to 1988, Larson was sports director at WHDH radio, reporting on “The Jess Cain Show.” In 1983, he was named the city’s “best sports reporter” by Boston Magazine.
For a certain generation of Boston sports fans, Larson is best remembered as one of the first familiar faces on regional cable sports network NESN.
He joined NESN in 1986, two years after its founding, and again hosted studio shows for the Bruins and Red Sox. He has also carved out a niche for himself as a reporter, writer and producer for the magazine show Front Row.
Larson — who adopted his professional name early in his career, which began at Westminster College in 1960 — had stints in Bloomington and Peoria, Illinois, and Lansing, Michigan, before coming to Boston.
He is survived by his five children – Robyn Hanna, Jeff Larason, Michael Larason, Tommy Larason and VyVy Larason – three grandchildren and his beloved companion Micki Costello.
Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn.
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