Larry Lujack

When the legendary Larry Lujack died last December, generations of listeners mourned the passing of one of radio’s all-time greatest personalities.

Heartfelt tributes extended far beyond Chicago, where Lujack reigned without equal for decades. From an obituary in the New York Times to a salute on the 2014 Grammy Awards show, they attested to the immense popularity and influence of the Hall of Fame broadcaster, who succumbed to esophageal cancer at 73.

But in the weeks and months that followed, colleagues and friends never had a chance to come together to honor Lujack’s memory or celebrate his life and career. Now as the first anniversary of his death December 18 approaches, it appears they never will.

Lujack, who donated his remains to University of New Mexico Medical Center for research, insisted that there be no funeral and discouraged any public gathering in his honor.

“As difficult as it has been, I am taking my cue from my husband and honoring his wishes of doing absolutely NOTHING,” Jude Lujack told me in an email Sunday. “This was a subject discussed during a very sad and painful year, but nevertheless it was drilled into my head that it was important to him to leave this earthly body without any fanfare. . . . So although it isn't conventional, it is so my ‘Lujo’ to have it his way.”

Recently retired Chicago radio veteran Tommy Edwards, Lujack’s longtime “Animal Stories” partner and one of his closest friends, said: “Larry’s passing was really emotional to a lot of us. We all respected his wishes to not have any kind of memorial service.”

Added Edwards: “I know many of us were very pleasantly surprised to see the Grammys pay tribute to him and other radio icons during their television broadcast. That was very classy. There are permanent tributes in both the Museum of Broadcast Communications’ Radio Hall of Fame here in Chicago and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.”

Even without the kind of closure some had wanted, fond memories of the man known to millions as “charming and delightful old Uncle Lar” endure.

“Sure, it would be nice to have a chance to tell stories about Lujack one more time,” said Bob Sirott, another longtime colleague and friend. “But it’s not like he’s been forgotten. All of us think about him all the time.”