Markas death stuns Angels’ community

The Angels remembered announcer Rory Markas, Tuesday, January, 5 on the Big A in the parking lot of Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
Historic play-by-plays by Angels announcer Rory Markas were left by fans. A memorial was made at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Markas died Tuesday. Cause of death is unknown.
Despite it being the off season, fans of Angels announcer Rory Markas left sweet notes, hand-pick flowers and images at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Markas died Tuesday. Cause of death is unknown.
Fans of Angels announcer Rory Markas left sweet notes at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Markas died Tuesday. Cause of death is unknown.
Thoughtful messages, images and flowers were left at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The memorial honored Angels announcer Rory Markas who died Tuesday.
Hand-picked flowers, brought bouquets, photos and heartfelt notes graced Angel Stadium of Anaheim where fans of Angels announcer Rory Markas left sweet remembrances.
Hand-picked flowers and heartfelt notes graced Angel Stadium of Anaheim where fans of Angels announcer Rory Markas left sweet remembrances.
Christian Vazquez, 14 of Hawaiian Gardens, and dad Miguel were surprised and sadden to hear of the death of Rory Markas. The two were fans of the Angels announcer and had followed his career for many years. Although it was the off season people came to Angel Stadium of Anaheim to remember Markas.
Miguel Vazquez of Hawaiian Gardens and son Christian, 14, and look at a memorial for Angels announcer Rory Markas at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Both have followed Markas career for years and were very sad to learn of Markas death. Cause of death is unknown.
Rory Markas does TV work for Channel 11.
Rory Markas and Darren Chan, engineer for the Angels' radio broadcasts, stand inside the Green Monster at Fenway Park.
Rory Markas gets a photo with The Champ, Muhammed Ali, at the Angels' spring training complex.
Rory Markus looks out over the sell-out crowd at Tempe Diablo stadium in 2003.
An unidentified man works in the parking lot of Angel Stadium.
Angel Stadium puts a picture of Rory Markus on the Big 'A' outside the stadium honoring the late broadcaster.
The noon sun glares behind the Big 'A' at Angel Stadium, where Rory Markas was remembered on the giant screen.
Angels radio announcer Rory Markas has died at 54.
Rory Markas is seen in Newport Beach before being inducted into Muldoon's Irish Wall of Fame.
Angels radio personalities Rory Markus and Terry Smith sit inside their spring training broadcast booth above Tempe Diablo stadium in Tempe, Ari., March 18, 2003.
Rory Markus (right) calls the game as color man Terry Smith checks a player substitution during a March 18, 2003 spring training game against the Oakland Athletics at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Angels radio personalities Terry Smith and Rory Markus are seeen March 18, 2003.
Angels radio voice Rory Markas gets a chuckle from the commentary of partner Terry Smith during a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics in 2003.

By Sam Miller | Orange County Register

January 5, 2010 at 8:48 a.m.

Reports are coming in that Rory Markas, one of the Angels announcers, has died of a possible heart attack.

Ruben Villaescusa, an assignment editor at Fox 11, writes that paramedics were called to Markas’ house late last night, where he was found dead. Markas had dealt with health problems — he suffered a blood clot in his brain in November 2008.

The LA Times’ Diane Pucin wrote about his comeback in December 2008: “I’ve been told your brain is your computer,” Markas said. “My computer crashed, and I have to give it a little time to reboot.”

Markas worked for the Angels for 11 seasons, often paired with Terry Smith or Mark Gubicza. He also called college basketball games and roller derby contests for RollerJam.

From Markas’ bio on the Angels Web site:

Prior to joining the Angels, Markas handled the play-by-play duties for the USC baseball team on the Trojan Radio Network, as well as a pre-game reporter of Trojan football. During that time, Markas was also a sports reporter on KNX Newsradio 1070 in Los Angeles and a sports anchor on FOX 11 KTTV. From

Markas has extensive baseball broadcasting experience as he has worked as a play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers television network (1992-94) and as a substitute radio play-by-play announcer with the Brewers radio network from 1984-1994. He spent six seasons (1981-87) calling Pacific Coast League baseball, including three years with the Salt Lake City Gulls and three years with the Vancouver Canadians.

Markas’ career has included stints as an on-air sports talent on KCBS 2 (1990-97) and Prime Ticket (1987-90). He has been honored with several broadcasting awards, including four Golden Mike Awards for radio reporting and two Associated Press Sportscasting Awards. He also received the 2008 Radio Play-by-Play Award from the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association.

A native of San Fernando Valley, Markas attended Chatsworth High School and played baseball. He attended Los Angeles Valley College and Cal State Northridge. He is single and lives in Palmdale, California.