LOS ANGELES—On June 29, 75-year-old “NBC4 Today in L.A.” reporter, Paul Johnson, passed away in his Los Angeles home while with his wife and family.

The renowned traffic anchorman, who reported traffic and weather on NBC4 since 1988,  had reportedly suffered a brain tumor for which he had received an operation in January, and had been off the air while recuperating.  Legions of concerned fans had contacted NBC4 to ask why Johnson had been off work, and Johnson’s surgery was later publicized; massive condolences were extended.

Johnson was famed for providing fans and viewers with quality and traffic news, along with his trademark phrase, “Buckle up, be careful out there.”  He had previously worked as a program director in Detroit for WJR-FM, and worked for more than eight years at Capital Cities.  He later joined Metro Traffic in 1982, and also reported traffic news at Los Angeles radio stations like KZLA, KNX, KACE and KXEZ.  He worked at KZLA/KPOL from 1975-1983, KFAC in 1974, KUTE from 1972-1973 and KIIS-FM from 1969-1972.

Other hallmarks of Johnson’s career include his notable appearances in the film “Paint Your Wagon,” as well as stage opera pieces and television advertisements.  Johnson also acquired his Bachelor of Science degree from Glendale University.

Canyon News contacted Mario Amaya, one of Johnson’s many fans, and also a journalist who had been inspired by the charismatic newscaster.

“Paul was the very first reporter that I saw the day I turned on the TV for the first time, when I immigrated to the U.S. 15 years ago,” Amaya told Canyon News.  “I liked his voice, very deep, and with which he communicated with confidence and credibility, which turned to be exactly that always.

“Then, in my days working as reporter and editor for a publication in San Bernadino County,” Amaya continued, “I used to commute from L.A. for several years, and I used to turn on the TV every morning to see how the commuting was going to be in order to prepare my route, if I should take the 10, the 60 or…the 91 freeways…always.  He became part of my daily routine, as I imagine for thousands of people like me.

“I started to notice that he [Johnson] wasn’t on the air and I thought it was for vacation time or something else,” Amaya concluded to Canyon News, “but it never came to mind to think he had such a fight with cancer.  He was, without ever seeing me in person, a mentor and professional many in the industry should remember in Southern California.”