Tom Magliozzi – one of public radio’s most beloved figures – passed away today at 77. From 1977 to 2012, Magliozzi and his brother Ray hosted the peabody Award-winning Car Talk on NPR. Much more than a simple auto repair call-in show, Car Talk was enlivened by Ray and Tom’s razor-sharp banter and incredible wit. Tom worked as an engineer after graduating from MIT in 1958 before a near-fatal car accident during his lengthy commute prompted him to choose a new career. He described the incident during a 1999 commencement speech at his alma mater: “I quit my job,” Magliozzi said. “I became a bum. I spent two years sitting in Harvard Square drinking coffee. I invented the concept of the do-it-yourself auto repair shop, and I met my lovely wife.” That period led to the creation of Car Talk, which started off on local Boston radio, and soon became a favorite amongst gear-heads and casual NPR listeners alike. Tom and Ray retired from the show in 2012 after Tom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Magliozzi is the second beloved son that the city of Boston has lost in les than a week, following the death of Thomas Menino last week this past Thursday. Celebrities We Lost in 2014 1. Philip Seymour Hoffman R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014). He will forever be missed!
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Tom Magliozzi Dies: Car Talk Host Was 77
