R.I.P.: Tucson Radio Personality Nixon Low

Nixon Low

Nixon Low, Tucson radio's self-proclaimed "Chinese Guy," died Wednesday morning after a brief battle with the rare cancer sarcoma.

Qccording to azstarnet.com, Low was 52 and was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive cancer in March and had undergone surgery at University of Arizona Medical Center in early April. He was readmitted to the hospital this week after suffering complications, said his Cumulus radio co-worker Shannon Black of the KIIM FM 99.5 FM Max, Shannon & Porkchop morning show.

Black and her co-hosts made a tearful announcement of Low's death during Wednesday's show, and Facebook and Twitter tributes quickly began popping up, recalling Low's kindness and sense of humor.

Low, who moved to Tucson when he was a teen, had been on and off Tucson radio since the 1980s, taking turns behind the mic at KRQ93.7 FM and K-Hit 107.5 FM when it was on the AM dial. He also did a short stint with a San Diego radio station.

Low, a fixture on Tucson radio since the 1980s with DJ roles on KRQQ, KNST, KQYT, KFXX, KHYT and KWFM, eschewed social media and technology in general. He walked around Cumulus - where he was a promotions manager for KIIM and its four sister stations - carrying a legal pad with the letter "I" on it. He called it his iPad. A book with a picture of his face was his Facebook, and he refused to get a smartphone. He had the same basic phone for six years and got a new one only when the zero button broke off and he no longer could punch in the number with a pen.

"There's nobody who met Nixon who didn't like him," added Black, who knew Low since they worked together at KRQ more than 20 years ago. "He was the nicest, sweetest guy. If you were having a down day, he would make you feel better."

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