Still laughing, Detroit radio legend Dick Purtan signs off

Detroit News

After 45 years, Dick Purtan left Detroit's airwaves exactly as he started, with "a little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down the pants," paraphrasing the famous line from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

At 8:57 a.m. Friday, with wife Gail looking on and family members dabbing their eyes amid a crowd of friends, present and former sidekicks, and well-wishers, Purtan signaled for his favorite song to be played, Frank Sinatra's "Softly As I Leave You."

"Turn the volume up," said his daughter and sidekick Jackie, while tears flowed at the sentimental lyrics.