CONDOLENCES TO "SHOTGUN TOM" KELLY & HIS FAMILY
Story by Kurt Kelly
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Our very sincere condolences to "Shotgun Tom" Kelly and his immediate family, and relatives on the loss of his brother John G. ["Greg"] Irwin Jr., age 74. Greg passed away very unexpectedly on New Years eve at his home in Newark, California. Irwin was reportedly in good health when he suffered from a sudden heart-attack. Memorial services will held this coming week in Northern California with family members and friends. Greg Irwin was "Special Forces" during his term in the Military, and was stationed at Fort Ord, Army Base, Monterey, California. Later he became an expert Insurance Investigator of Claims for All State Insurance. According to "Shotgun Tom" Kelly, "Greg was one of those guys, where you couldn't get anything past him"!
John Greg Irwin, Jr., is survived by his wife Betty Irwin [a now retired Labor-Delivery Nurse], his son Charles [Chuck], and daughters Katie, Jeannie, and Laura. The family has asked that any remembrances, be sent to: Betty Irwin, 6354 Jasmine Avenue, Newark, CA 94560. For those wishing to send wishes electronically, email shotgunt@aol.com, and Shotgun will share them with family members.
Greg Irwin was one of 3 sons born to his late parents, John G. Irwin, Sr. and his wife La Von from Nebraska. His father John, worked as a Railroad Engineer in Nebraska, where Greg and his now diseased brother Robert [Bob] were born. The Irwin family later transfered to Southern California with the Santa Fe Railroad company, which is where little brother, Tom ["the caboose" as his father used to call him] was born [later to become known as Shotgun Tom]. According to Kelly, his brother Greg was a big fan of radio, and was a regular listener of KGO in San Francisco. When "Shotgun Tom" Kelly debuted On-air at K-EARTH 101 [where he has been a top-rated personality Afternoons 3-7 PM, since: September 18, 1997]; brother Greg was so proud, he made a special trip to Los Angeles to sit in on an entire show with Shotgun.
Producer Tony Pepper of ON Music and Sound in Santa Monica, [who has known Greg, Tom and his family for over 20 years, and Shotgun personally for nearly 30 years], said "Greg always had a funny line, and could always crack me up!" Unlike Tom, Greg was not the big beard and big hat type of guy, he was more the suit and tie businessman with an amazing sense of humor. According to Tony, "Greg was the straight-man to Tom's flamboyant performances. He was always quick to deliver the fun to any situation or conversation in his unique soft-spoken delivery. Greg had the dry sense of humor, with very funny one liners that we have quoted for many years and will, for years to come!"Organizer of the "2010 Holiday Lunch in L.A. with Radio's Fabulous Fifteen!", Art Vuolo, "Radio's Best Friend" [and "Shotgun Tom" Kelly's house guest, visiting in Los Angeles from Detroit], said "this is not the way anyone ever wants to start the New Year?! I've known Tom since the 1977 Radio & Records Convention in Dallas, and he is one of the Industries "true talents". It is the wakeup call we should all hear, to take better care of ourselves and to practice good health daily."
Norman Jacobovitz, District Manager for Coca-Cola Refreshment [the new CCR], and his wife Debbie, son Brian, and daughter Brooke "extend their love and prayers to Greg, Shotgun and their families". Norm, has been a regular at weekly dinners at Canters Deli in Los Angeles with Shotgun and other Kelly regulars.
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