Former Suns reporter and Hall of Famer Joe Gilmartin dies at 88
Feb 28, 2018, 9:30 AM
Courtesy Phoenix Suns
Longtime Suns writer and broadcast analyst Joe Gilmartin passed away Tuesday night at the age of 88, the Phoenix Suns announced.
Gilmartin was an editor for the Phoenix Gazette for more than 30 years. His book, The Little Team that Could… And Darn Near Did, covered the Suns’ run to the 1976 NBA Finals.
He was named the Arizona Sportswriter of the Year a record 16 times.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Joe’s passing,” the team sent in a press release. “A Hall of Fame writer, Joe knew the game as well as anyone, but he coupled that knowledge with the unique ability to report with his trademark humor, a trait that matched his lovable personality.”
The Arizona Diamondbacks tweeted condolences to the Gilmartin family Wednesday morning.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of longtime Arizona sportswriter Joe Gilmartin. Our thoughts are with the Gilmartin family, including his son — @DbacksRadio engineer and producer Leo Gilmartin. pic.twitter.com/epbeCpGhll
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 28, 2018
Gilmartin was the first president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association, serving from 1972 to 1974. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
