SUMMARY
- Larry Zimmer has served as a radio broadcaster for the University of Colorado football and basketball games for 42 seasons.
- Larry Zimmer passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on the evening of January 20, 2024.
Larry Zimmer was known as the ‘Voice of the Buffaloes’ and has served as a radio broadcaster for the University of Colorado football and basketball games for 42 seasons. He was a Colorado Sports Hall of Famer and has called more than 1000 Colorado sporting events.
Zimmer passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on the evening of January 20, 2024, while he was surrounded by his friends and family. He was hospitalized for the last 10 days at St. Anthony’s in Lakewood and received numerous friends and family visits during this time. Many former players and members of his former radio station visited him.
We’re saddened by the passing of legendary Broncos radio broadcaster & longtime #BroncosROF committee member Larry Zimmer.
Since 1971, Larry has called some of the franchise’s most iconic moments & helped honor some of our greatest legends.
📰: https://t.co/53levfiJaq pic.twitter.com/BIUQDJl7HK
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 21, 2024
The Denver Broncos posted about his demise on their official X profile, expressing their loss in the caption. Colorado University has decided to hold a moment of silence for Larry before the women’s basketball game against Southern California on January 21, 2024.
Larry Zimmer’s legendary career
Larry Zimmer has voiced Broncos games for the KOA radio for 26 years and has served as a color commentator from 1971 to 1989. After this, he handled play-by-play responsibilities for six years, from 1990 to 1996. In total, Zimmer has called more than 500 Broncos games, which includes 20 post-season games and four Super Bowls.
A Colorado radio icon.
Rest in peace, Larry Zimmer
more: https://t.co/Mevfrnm7Uv pic.twitter.com/J6LNFlCs1P
— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) January 21, 2024
He has also been a legendary voice for the University of Colorado and was honored as the National Football Foundation’s Schenkel Award winner in 2009. He graduated in 1957 from the University of Missouri and broadcasted football and basketball games in high school. Larry has also worked with Wolverine’s football, basketball, and hockey teams before joining KOA.
Larry has also served on the Broncos’ Ring of Fame committee for more than 30 years, which marks his 52-year-long association with the Broncos. In 1971, he became part of the KOA as a play-by-play announcer for the Colorado University football team and the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association.
Larry Zimmer’s wife and children
Larry Zimmer is now survived by his wife Brigitte Bastian, who is currently 51 years old, his son Lawrence III, his daughter Tracey Robb, and his granddaughter Shannon Robb. His family members were around him at the time of his demise. Few people know that Zimmer has served in the army for two years, earning the rank of 1st Lieutenant and being awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
In his massive career spanning over six decades, Zimmer has covered the Olympics, NFL Europe, the College World Series, NCAA basketball for NBC, CBS, and ESPN, along with World Cup ski events. The fans will miss his voice, and he will always be remembered as one of the best broadcasters of all time. Furthermore, it is not revealed how he died, so it is still to be seen if his family members or close friends disclose it in the future.