Rod Van Hook, 61, brother of former DB staffer Perry van Hook and a veteran sports broadcaster for Los Angeles radio stations KFWB, KMPC and KSPN, died of heart failure Saturday November 7 at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, his family said. His obituary appeared in the LA Times Nov. 10.

A Santa Monica resident, he previously had battled pancreatic cancer.

Van Hook had worked as a studio host for National Football League and college football games on Sports USA Radio network from 2007 until earlier this year.

Besides providing sports scores and updates on local radio, he covered major sporting events such as the Rose Bowl, Super Bowl, World Series and other pro and college games.

Born July 31, 1948, in Vermillion, S.D., Van Hook earned his bachelor's degree at UCLA.

He won three Los Angeles Press Club awards over a three-decade career.