‘Spokane radio pal’ J.J. Hemingway of Shine 104.9 dies at 65

Spokane radio personality J.J. Hemingway, who always referred to himself on his show as “your Spokane radio pal,” died Monday. He was 65.

Contemporary Christian radio station Shine 104.9 announced Hemingway’s death on its Facebook page Wednesday, writing that he died at Providence Holy Family Hospital in Spokane after he fell ill. His cause of death was cardiac arrest due to complications with blood-sugar level, said Darin Patzer, station manager for Shine 104.9.

“J.J. was an irreplaceable talent mixed with humor and spiritual encouragement,” Patzer said.

Derek Cutlip, morning producer for Shine 104.9, knew Hemingway for 28 years. They both worked at radio station KTSL in the ’90s. Hemingway eventually left and bounced around to various stations in the Northwest before the two were reunited at Shine 104.9 three years ago when the station hired Hemingway.

“He was quirky,” Cutlip said. “He had a childlike faith about him. There was this innocence about him.”

Listener Stephanie Morgan was one of nearly 200 commenters on the Facebook post who expressed how Hemingway’s show affected their lives. Morgan wrote that Hemingway “was so awesome to listen to. He had great words of encouragement and you could feel his love for GOD over the radio.”

Cutlip said Hemingway was an avid bowler and golfer and owned his own voice-over company for more than a decade.

Hemingway was known for signing off his show with the same quote: “Remember, no matter what the weather’s like, you can always, and I do mean always, let the Son shine in your life.”