The annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon got underway Tuesday, but with two notable absences: pitcher-turned-broadcaster Tim Wakefield and executive Larry Lucchino, two longtime members of the Red Sox who were deeply devoted to the Jimmy Fund, who have both passed away since last summer’s event.

In his storied career, which included four World Series championships with the 1983 Orioles and Red Sox (’04, ’07, ’13), Lucchino championed the design and construction of some of the most beautiful Major- and minor-league ballparks: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, San Diego’s PetCo Park, several rounds of renovations to Fenway Park when he and current ownership took over, and most recently, Worcester’s Polar Park, home of the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate WooSox. He was also renowned for his philanthropic throughout his career.

Before Tuesday night’s game, Alex Cora shared that what first stood out to him about Lucchino when he first arrived in Boston as a player in 2005 was how much the executive, then president of the Red Sox, cared about bettering the organization in any and every possible way.

“He used to have these roundtable meetings, and it was veterans, young guys, maybe somebody from the front office, and somebody new in the organization,” Cora recalled. “And he would sit there and say, ‘This is for the benefit of the Red Sox, what we need to do (to be better).”

In one of those meetings, the group spoke about upgrading the clubhouse and the new room for players’ families.

“He talked about the family room. It was just the beginning of it, and Tvs for the family room, carpet, pizza for the wives,” Cora said. “He really cared about the Red Sox. He wanted this organization to be the best, and have every competitive advantage, and it was fun. It was a joy to be around him.”

Despite stepping down from the Red Sox in October 2015, Lucchino remained with their Triple-A affiliate as chairman and co-owner, and moved them from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Worcester in 2021. He remained a part of the WooSox until his passing on April 2.

“The last time we actually saw – talked for a long period of time was at one of the restaurants in Newton,” Cora said. “He was there with his family and I saw him, we talked a little bit. Just talking about how proud he was of what we are, were doing here.

“But that part always caught my attention,” Cora said of first seeing Lucchino’s interest and devotion to every aspect of the Red Sox almost two decades ago. “I was like man, this guy gets it.”