Longtime Celtics, BC announcer Jick dies at 66

BOSTON -- Andy Jick, the longtime Boston Celtics and Boston College public address announcer, has died. He was 66.

BC said Jick died in his sleep Friday.

Jick was the P.A. announcer for the Celtics at the old Boston Garden starting in 1980 and through three NBA championships. The team led by the original Big Three of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale also made two unsuccessful trips to the finals.

Jick went with the team for its first two seasons at the Garden before he was replaced in 1997. He announced men's and women's Boston College basketball games and other sports since 2001.

BC athletic director Martin Jarmond called it a "tremendously sad day for all of us."