Former KSTP sports director Rod Simons has died. He was 56.
Simons was covering spring training for the Minnesota Twins, says the team.
He started working at the Minneapolis-St. Paul ABC affiliate in 2003 and worked there until 2008. He started his career at KSTW in Seattle.
“Sad day in Fort Myers,” said Twins president Dave St. Peter. “RIP Rod. God Bless your family. You were ALWAYS a positive light in an often negative world. Definition of class.”
From KOMO in Seattle:
As news of Simons’ death spread, online tributes came from his co-workers and competitors. KOMO anchor Eric Johnson called him “one of the truly fine men of my profession,” and a damned good sportscaster who was always smiling. KING reporter Chris Daniels described him as a personal mentor and a longtime friend “with contagious positivity.” Former Seattle Times photographer Rod Mar, who now works for the Seahawks, recalled Simons’ smile too — one you’d get “whether you’d seen him last week or 10 years ago.”