Terry Armour Dies at 46

That name probably doesn't mean a whole lot to you unless you live in Chicago, in which case you know Terry to be a long time columnist at the Chicago Tribune and host of the The Stan and Terry Show, which aired on WCKG-FM for the past few years. Terry wrote entertainment features for the Tribune, had his own Sunday column and also wrote restaurant and bar reviews.

Terry died unexpectedly today at age 46.

I knew Terry personally and worked with him frequently. He was one of those people that made it fun to come to work. He was always upbeat and excitable, always with a smile on his face. Whenever he would see me he would always call me 'Benji' and usually make fun of my 'fancy shoes'. He also tried (in vain) to show me how to 'shake hands like a brother'. His sarcasm was also much appreciated. I often had to pitch him on doing crappy interviews for crappier movies, and even though he'd always tease me about it ('What makes you think I want to sit through that piece of shit?'), he would come through again and again.

He was sarcastic and witty and could always make me laugh. In the 90's he served as the Bulls beat reporter for the Tribune, back in the glory days. One night at a cocktail party, Shane (Tommy Buzanis) and I cornered him, and for over an hour he regaled us with stories of locker room debauchery and Dennis Rodman indiscretions. I haven't laughed that hard since.

And no, Terry wasn't in the Death Pool, so don't ask. But knowing Terry, he would have loved the idea of it.

Terry you will be missed.