R.I.P.: San Diego Radio Broadcaster Ted Tillotson

Ted Tillotson

Ted Tillotson long time radio sidekick, radio news anchor, writer, instructor and tremendous friend passed away last Friday night. Ted was an instrumental force in the KGB Boss Radio Era of the 60s and 70s.

Tillotson worked at KGB 1360 AM "20-20 news" as Ted Taylor or later on at KUDE, KCBQ, Sunny 103, KPRI, The Eagle 94.1 and more.

His name is etched in stone on the KCBQ monument in front of the In & Out Burger in Santee along with other greats from San Diego Radio.

According to Joe Nelson at SanDiegoRadio.org, "Ted was my sidekick and friend on the original KPRI San Diego's Best Rock from 1977 to 1984, and again at The Eagle in the late 90s."

"I used to tease him that he graduated high school the same year I was born. It was that kind of friendship and his creativity that made KPRI a force in San Diego Morning Radio market for many years."

Tillotson wrote and stared in daily radio episodes on the life and times of Sammy Surfer and his girlfriend Monica. Monica was taken from the real broken heart Ted felt when his own wife left him, according to Joe Nelson.

"I don't think he really ever got over her but out of respect he changed her name from Kathy to Monica. That radio satire helped Ted heal over the years and made thousands of San Diegan's laugh every morning.