Tom Magliozzi, the much-loved co-host of the National Public Radio show Car Talk, died Monday from complications of Alzheimer's disease, according to NPR.
For decades, Magliozzi (above, left) and his brother Ray hosted Car Talk on NPR as "Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers." The NPR post remembered their affectionate banter and easy rapport.
The Magliozzi brothers ran an auto repair shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the 70s. The pair got into radio when the local public radio station called Ray and asked him to take part in a panel of auto mechanics. Tom went instead, and the station liked him so much they asked him to return.
The weekly show went national on NPR in 1987, with what the station called a "blend of humor, passion, expertise and just plain silliness." Listeners loved Magliozzi's snappy one-liners, like "“How do you know if you've got a good mechanic? By the size of his boat.” Archives of the show will continue to air.
His co-workers remembered his laughter and warm intelligence. One colleague, Susan Stamberg, wrote "Funny and smart and bighearted, Tom was as warm in real life as he was on the radio." Doug Berman, the longtime producer of Car Talk, recalled "His laugh is the working definition of infectious laughter."
Read on for more reactions, and reminisce with this collection of five clips from the show.
So Tom Magliozzi gets to the Pearly Gates. St. Peter says, "The Edsel has been waiting for you." http://t.co/ZTi71f0nBS— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) November 3, 2014
To honor Tom Magliozzi I will laugh for three minutes while thinking about what's wrong with your Subaru's steering column— MUSCHAMP-O-LANTERN (@edsbs) November 3, 2014
My favorite photo of Tom and Ray. Thinking of Doug and everyone else at @cartalk pic.twitter.com/69PIQwT7Y8— Melody Joy Kramer (@mkramer) November 3, 2014
For a Bostonian, one of the best things about Car Talk was being able to turn on NPR anywhere & get a blast of language & humor from home.— Amanda Katz (@katzish) November 3, 2014
Remembering Tom. http://t.co/0ekgwHmVlY pic.twitter.com/td2nvaiNwD— Car Talk (@cartalk) November 3, 2014
Public radio wouldn’t be the funny, engaging, and entertaining place that it is without Tom. Thanks for everything. pic.twitter.com/WxhuYmhMPJ— waitwait (@waitwait) November 3, 2014
We can't believe you're gone, Tom. Thank you for the laughs. @cartalk http://t.co/fSiZzciMoY pic.twitter.com/G0f2mtxt3a— NPR's Fresh Air (@nprfreshair) November 3, 2014
There will be official notices, but Ray and his family ask, in lieu of flowers, you donate to Alzheimer's charities and your local station.— Peter Sagal (@petersagal) November 3, 2014