Public Visitation Hours For Gil Santos Announced

Fans of Gil Santos will have a chance to say goodbye to the longtime voice of the New England Patriots.

The public has been invited to a visiting period by the Santos Family on April 24 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Prophett-Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Bridgewater. All other services will be private. Santos passed away Thursday at the age of 80.

Santos was the play-by-play man for the Patriots for 36 seasons across five decades, first stepping in the booth for the team in 1966. He switched from color commentary to play-by-play when the team moved to 1971, a position he held until 1979. Santos returned to the radio booth in 1991 and remained there for 22 seasons.

In addition to his work at WBZ, Santo also called games for the Boston Celtics, Boston Breakers, Providence Friars, Penn State and Boston College football.

He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2013.

Memorial donations in Santos' name may be sent to the Greater New England chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 101A 1st Ave., Waltham, MA 02451.

Image: File Photo