Ernie Harwell is gone.
Harwell, 92, died Tuesday night at his home in Novi after a year-long bout with cancer.
Harwell, the Hall of Fame Tigers broadcaster, was more than just a great voice. He was a great man. Really.
Often in death, people paint the person who has passed in glowing terms. Often, it’s not all true.
That’s not the case with Harwell. He was a true gentleman. He was such a nice person — whether he knew you or not. He always had time for others and a kind word for friends.
Just a few weeks ago before I opened my sports bar in downtown Detroit, Harwell emailed me and wished me well in my new business. I was overwhelmed by his gesture. But that’s the kind of man he was.
When I first started doing sports-talk radio on WDFN in 1994, Harwell invite me and my parnter, Mike Stone, to lunch. What a thrill. A giant in broadcasting took the time to wish us well and give us some advice about the radio biz. I loved every minute of it.
The same goes when Harwell invited me to his house about a year and a half ago to have lunch with him and his wife, Lulu. We just ate, talked and shared some time together. I will always cherish my time I had with Ernie.
For sure, Harwell will be missed by Motown and all the people he touched all over the country, especially me.
