Legendary sports figure remembered by hundreds

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan

A legendary sports figure, described as a wholesome, friendly,

loving and honest man, was celebrated by hundreds of mourners Sunday

at the Turf Club at Hollywood Park Race Track in Inglewood.

Irv Kaze, an award-winning broadcaster and former executive for

several major sports organizations, was remembered by friends and

family during the hour-long ceremony as a true gentleman and

hard-working father.

Kaze died of a massive heart attack June 29 after completing his

weekly-hour long radio show on the Glendale-based KRLA-AM (870). He

suffered the heart attack during dinner at a Glendale restaurant

after taping his show, “Irv Kaze on Sports.” He was 75.

Kaze -- who was the host of the longest-running, single-host

sports talk radio show in Southern California -- is survived by his

wife, Barbara and son Benjie, along with two grandchildren, four

step-children and five step-grandchildren.

“We are not here to mourn the passing of Irv Kaze, but to

celebrate his life,” said Southern California Sports Broadcasters

Assn. President Stu Nahan, who was the emcee and announced that the

SCSB award for the Best Radio Program would be renamed the Irv Kaze

Memorial Talk Show Award.

Nahan then introduced Benjie, who later spoke of his father’s

friendly and caring personality toward lesser-known workers in an

organization.

“A bat boy for the L.A. Angels in 1961 called me and said ‘Your

dad cared as much for me than anybody else,’ ” said Benjie, a sports

producer for Fox Sports Network.

“This turnout doesn’t happen by accident.”

Ohev Shalom Synagogue Rabbi David Trooper, one of the 12 speakers

during the ceremony, followed Benjie by reciting a prayer that Irv

would sometimes read.

“I never met a man who didn’t like Irv,” Trooper said. “He cared

for everybody in his life. I never met anybody he didn’t like. We’re

all going to miss him and he won’t be replaced.”

Among the speakers were Oakland Raider Owner Al Davis, former L.A.

Dodger General Manager Fred Claire, ESPN analyst Hank Goldberg,

Kaze’s long-time family friend Chuck Panama, former talk-show host

Gil Stratton and Barbara, who concluded the ceremonies.

“It’s been a tough 10 days, month and two months for me,” said

Davis, alluding to the deaths of legendary broadcasters Chick Hearn

and Jerry Dunphy.

“You think of Irv Kaze and you think of all the great people we’ve

lost in the past two months. He was friendly with everyone. And if

there was anything the Raiders needed, it was for someone to be

friendly with everybody.

“Irv didn’t play for the Raiders, but he wore the colors with

pride, poise and class.”

Kaze was the public relations director for the New York Yankees

from 1981-1982 and was a senior administrator for the Los Angeles

Raiders from 1982-1990. He also worked under National League

Commissioner Chub Feeney.

Kaze’s career as a publicist also included a job for the Hollywood

Stars of the Pacific Coast League, and stints with the NBA’s San

Diego Clippers and the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. He worked for the

1981 American League champion Yankees and the 1984 Super Bowl

champion Raiders.

When the Raiders returned to Oakland, Kaze became the commissioner

of the Continental Basketball Assn.

During his run with KRLA, which began in 1992 on KIEV radio,

before recently changing to KRLA, Kaze was recognized four times by

the SCSB as the best sports talk show host.

He was selected as the best sports talk radio host by the Greater

L.A. Press Club in 1998.

“Irv was the most consistent man I’ve ever met,” Claire said.

Said Goldberg: “I don’t need to tell you that he was always there

when you needed him.

“With all apologies to [Yankee owner] Mr. [George] Steinbrenner

and Mr. Davis, but I think Irv today is wearing a halo.”

Added Panama: “Benjie paid me the greatest compliment when he said

I was the brother that Irv never had.”

Barbara Kaze concluded the ceremony by thanking everyone and

offering insights into Irv’s personal life, where he would always put

water next to Barbara’s bed just in case she needed it during the

middle of the night.

“I was married to a wonderful man,” Barbara said. “He loved his

family, he loved his friends and he loved his colleagues.

“I know if Irv were here today, he would be so proud.”

Los Angeles Times Sports Editor Bill Dwyre, talk-show host Steve

Hartman, Fox Sports’ Lisa Guerrero, former Raider Coach Tom Flores,

L.A Dodger Senior Vice President of Communications Derrick Hall,

Dodger President Bob Graziano and L.A. Kings announcer Bob Miller

were among the mourners.