Monday
Aug082011
Remembering Fred Imus
Please share your thoughts and memories of Fred Imus, who passed away August 6 at the age of 69
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This Isn’t Our Last Love Letter
Dear Don Don,
Way back in 92
I walked into the room and knew
Never felt this way before
I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes
And the feeling grew
As I took a seat I knew
A love that would have my heart
Forever
I knew
Way back in 92
They say love at first sight doesn’t always last or isn’t true
We were the exception to that rule
Our love had no where to hide
A spark set fire
As if this is how the universe started
I never doubted our love or what we could do
Together we grew
Forming a bond everlasting
That became our glue
My euphoria was YOU
I’m eternally grateful for the love and life we shared
For how fortunate we were :
“to have and to hold
through sickness and in health
Til death do us part”
Until we are together again
This isn’t our last love letter
I love you with all my heart and soul
Yours forever,
Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow)
I’m fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus.
A True American Hero
I don’t know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus.
I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years.
I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years.
But what most people don’t talk enough about is what he did for all of us.
In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about.
Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle.
I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life.
I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirde’s life.
No one will ever do what he did.
I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO
David Jurist
IMUS IN THE MORNING
FIRST DAY BACK!
Imus Ranch Foundation
The Imus Ranch Foundation was formed to donate 100% of all donations previously devoted to The Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer to various other charities whose work and missions compliment those of the ranch. The initial donation from The Imus Ranch Foundation was awarded to Tackle Kids Cancer, a program of The HackensackUMC Foundation and the New York Giants.
Please send donations to The Imus Ranch Foundation here:
Imus Ranch
PO Box 1709
Brenham, Texas 77833
A Tribute To Don Imus
Children’s Health Defense joins parents of vaccine-injured children and advocates for health freedom in remembering the life of Don Imus, a media maverick in taking on uncomfortable topics that most in the mainstream press avoid or shut down altogether. His commitment to airing all sides of controversial issues became apparent to the autism community in 2005 and 2006 as the Combating Autism Act (CAA) was being discussed in Congress. The Act, which was ultimately signed into law by George W. Bush in December of 2006, created unprecedented friction among parents of vaccine-injured children and members of Congress; parents insisted that part of the bill’s billion-dollar funding be directed towards environmental causes of autism including vaccines, while most U.S. Senators and Representatives tried to sweep any such connections under the rug.
News Articles
Don Imus, Divisive Radio Shock Jock Pioneer, Dead at 79 - Imus in the Morning host earned legions of fans with boundary-pushing humor, though multiple accusations of racism and sexism followed him throughout his career By Kory Grow RollingStone
Don Imus Leaves a Trail of Way More Than Dust
Don Imus Was Abrupt, Harsh And A One-Of-A-Kind, Fearless Talent
By Michael Riedel - The one and only time I had a twinge of nerves before appearing on television was when I made my debut in 2011 on “Imus in the Morning” on the Fox Business Channel. I’d been listening to Don Imus, who died Friday at 79, since the 1990s as an antidote the serious (bordering on the pompous) hosts on National Public Radio. I always thought it would be fun to join Imus and his gang — news anchor Charles McCord, producer Bernard McGuirk, comedian Rob Bartlett — in the studio, flinging insults back and forth at one another. And now I had my chance. I was invited on to discuss to discuss “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark,” the catastrophic Broadway musical that injured cast members daily.
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Reader Comments (2564)
Quality radiates from you and your show. Fred's visits to your show were some of your best!
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." - From a headstone in Ireland
We are all going to miss Fred--He was one of a kind--His cutting remarks to Don and the cast was something that cannot be replaced--And how can we make it through the football season without his picks! Oh well
I will watch the Obama speeches for the first minute, and if he does not announce his resignation, I will turn off the TV for Fred.
Rest in Peace Fred
So sad to hear the news. He will be missed by all.
so sorry about the loss of Fred. It hurts to lose love ones. From 1 prostate cancer battler to another here is a song that has helped me out with grief it is " if you only knew " by the Inspirations. You are in my prayers.
Don, Deidre, and Wyatt,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your brother and uncle Fred. He was so REAL and you two were so funny together! I would listen on my way to work and laughed the whole way. I loved the way you two signed off-----Love You, So special !!!!!!!!!!!!
Please know he is watching over you. Take care,
P.S. You have a beautiful famiily!
Karen
Omaha, Nebraska
Howdy Don,
Many years ago, I was struck by a truck that lost its brakes. Ironically, I landed up in the Brain Trauma Unit at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago -- this particular day, I was "clincally sober", but spirtually long dead.
When I woke up some days later and ultimately landed up in a private room, someone had a radio on nearby that was replaying one of your shows via a syndicator -- blasting in the distance and in the recesses of my semi-conscious thoughts was Don and Fred Imus. My wife at the time said, "For the first time in 12 days you smiled when you looked at me." I said, "I smiled because of the joke that Fred told". Needless to say, she was uninpressed then, and some months later said, "Your served."
After I left the Northwestern, I was told "You need treatment for drugs and alcohol problems", and I thought otherwise. Ultimately, on Christmas Day, 1989 I entered the McBride Center for Impaired Professionals -- a very grumpy person. When I was finally taken off to my new prison cell, my roomate had a radio on and guess who was telling yet another joke? It was Fred Imus, and I said, "Geeeze, how coicidental is that -- two near-death experiences overshadowed by a quiet voice telling a simple joke over the air." My roomate said, "My friend in New York records the show and sends it to me and I play it in the morning."
I have been sober every day since -- and I have listened to your show ever day since.
Almost dying from a horrible accident, drugs, alcohol, and not living on life's terms has taken its toll -- its no laughing matter -- all three kill good people. The only thing that was funny about it all was Fred -- he taught me during the early going that their are no strange coincidences -- that I needed to listen to the quiet voice within the din. That maybe my screaming at others and myself about how life is unfair, unjust and unequal could be overun by God who delivers a quiet message through others, whether on the radio or standing in front of me.
Sometimes God delivers His wake up call by tossing people into Recovery through the windshield of a car.
Sometimes he delivers a wake up call through the quiet voice of a man delivering an understated joke to bring lauighter to people who are living a life of drugs and alcohol that is no laughing matter, and need a strange coicidence delivered through a scratchy radio to consider a dfiferent life, a different path.
I chose the later and to that end, thank you Fred for being present in my life when I most needed it, and least expected it. Thank you Fred for your quiet wisdom and the love that you have shown to so many who lived a loveless life, and yet wanted so much more. Thank you Fred for all that you gave this sad and broken world -- at a time when it most needed it, and yet, cannot hear through the racket and roil of the screamers.
You have done good work my friend -- go now in quiet peace -- the peace that transends all human understanding.
Always,
D
My husband and I have been listening/watching Imus for many years. We always looked forward to hearing from Fred. When he wasn't on for a while we would miss him. He was very special, even when he didn't have much to say, a real original, funny and great guy. What a shock to lose your buddy of so many years. He is irreplaceable to his family and to his listeners. We are deeply saddenly by his loss and I am sure so are all his friends and family. Our deepest sympathies from Regular Listeners, Sue and Karim, over coffee each morning in Upstate NY.
My listening to John Donald Imus dates to the purchasing of a powerful radio back in the late 80's.....so Soupy Sales, Howard Stern, & The I-man were holding down the switch from music to talk on 66 W N B C. It was in those early adult days for me (I'm 54 now) that I was exposed to Fred's unique dry sense of humor and his working on those classic '57 Chevys. Best Fred Imus joke on an impressionable 28-year-old listeners...."Did notice in the papers over the weekend that the Smithsonian has opened a rare exhibit of a lesbian dinosaur...the Lickalotapuss!" From that day on until last weekend I've taken for granted that from time to time Fred would be on my radio to brighten my month. To say I'm a country music fan is to state the obvious, and so I was shocked around 1990 to learn Fred had written that Jim Ed Brown / Helen Cornelius hit "I Don't Want To Marry You." And, only purchasing a car with XM radio 11 months ago, I sadly never heard him on Outlaw Country. Rest in Peace Fred; you certainly sound like a wounderful brother, fine father, and in your 69 years on earth spread enough good will and good cheer for 100 members of the Imus clan.
Fred was really cool. I liked him a lot and always enjoyed his appearances on the I-Man's show. He'll be missed.
Dear Don and Family, Deepest condolences on Fred's passing. He will be sorely missed. Charlie
I am deeply saddened by the passing of your brother, our prayers and thoughts are with the Imus family!
The best thing I remember that Fred said ( He'd turned on the radio to listen to obama speak, and when the first words weren't "I Resign" he turned off the radio).
My God what a man!
RIP Fred!
I will miss the call-ins to his brother. He was funny, witty and called 'em like he saw 'em! God bless him.
Fred's appearances were my favorite segments on Imus in the Morning. He always made me laugh, especially when describing his difficulties with dating web sites. My condolences to all of Fred's Family. He will surely will be missed.
You,ll always be in our Hearst and prayer
Rest in peace, liked since the first time I heard you on Imus in the morning. You were funny, truthful and very insightful
To the Imus Family:
I am 69 years old and have been a fan for many years. I don't know how it feels to loose a brother like Fred but I do know how it feels to loose a son which I did in 2007 at the age of 37. They say time heals all the pain and I'm still waiting for that time. Our prayers are with you all. He was "SPECIAL"' and I am so sorry.
Don,
Fred was certainly "one of a kind". I enjoyed his forthrightness, simplicity and sage view of the world all given in good humor. I am sorry for your loss
He is surely going to be missed such a thrill when he was on Imus. Our prayers will be with the family.
So sorry for your loss. I always looked forward to Fred's humor. He will be missed.
DEAR I MAN AND FAMILY.
I GO BACK TO "COLLINS THE CAT" DAYS. LOVED YOU GUYS THRU THE YEARS. FRED CALLS ALWAYS MADE MY DAY. YOU WERE
LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A BROTHER LIKE FRED AND VISA VERSA. GOD BLESS YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. I KNOW HE WILL
ENJOY FRED'S COMPANY.
My heartfelt condolences to the entire Imus family. I grew up in a small town and knew several colorful characters, not unlike Fred. He was a funny, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. The kind of guy that makes America great. You just knew you'd enjoy having a beer and talking cars with Fred. Rest in peace, Brother Fred. You will be missed.
Condolences to the Imus family. Fred was a genuine soul called too soon.
Watch over us Fred.
Pete
I loved following Fred's exploits and those of his dogs. He was a great guest and regular. I was fortunate enough to meet him at the Auto Body Express in Santa Fe years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't have my FredBook with me for him to sign.
We'll all miss him. God Bles him and all of the family.
As a long time Imus watcher/listener, I loved Fred's brilliantly outlaw take on things. Even when Don would get POd at Fred, he's end the call
with "I love you" and that always --in the middle of the humor-- really touched me. My thoughts and condolences are with the Imus family - extended as it is...at this time. He was a true original and his loss is felt by many. I hope he and Dear John are having a good ol' time somewhere up there where the cowboys roam and play. He won't be forgotten.