Radio legend Harry Donahue has died on the age of 77 following a battle with most cancers. The star who died on Wednesday October 29, had a 35-year profession at Philadelphia’s KYW Newsradio and the information was confimed by the stations mum or dad firm Audacy. His loss of life got here on the identical day as that of one other Phildelphia radio icon Pierre Robert, who was discovered lifeless in his house on the age of 70. Tributes flooded in for the broadcasting star as information of his loss of life broke.
“October twenty ninth, 2025 will go down as one of many all-time crappy days in Philadelphia broadcasting historical past. Not solely did we lose the legendary Pierre Robert, however we misplaced one other iconic voice in Harry Donahue, who handed on the age of 77,” one fan wrote on Fb. “RIP Harry – listened to him for years out delivering my mail route on Saturdays,” a second longtime listener added.
“Man, actually unhappy information. Harry was one of many folks I used to sit up for saying howdy to earlier than each Temple basketball and soccer sport when he was nonetheless broadcasting the soccer video games and travelling with the workforce. All the time tremendous cool and even did an on-air present about me and my images profession previous to a sport. Relaxation In Peace Harry !!” a 3rd shared.
A fourth chimed in: “An awesome expertise. An awesome good friend and a Philadelphia broadcaster to his core who will likely be terribly missed.”
“R.I.P. used to get up to listen to my faculty quantity..then a few years later had the pleasure of assembly him with Ginger Traynor ..in Toronto on the black bull ..had a pleasant chat with him,” a fifth wrote.
In the meantime, a sixth recalled ready for Harry to announce faculty closures in dangerous climate, commenting: “Aweee relaxation in peace. As a baby, I waited early within the morning for #HarryDonahue to name 301. Abington Faculty closing.”
Harry was a longtime sports activities and morning drive anchor for KYW earlier than his retirement in 2014. He started working with them in 1974 as a contract reporter earlier than formally changing into an anchor in 1979.
“Who will get an opportunity to cowl these kind of groups, these kind of people within the metropolis the place they grew up,” he stated throughout KYW’s sixtieth anniversary celebrations. “That was the particular half for me.”
He obtained many honours all through his lengthy profession. In 2000, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports activities Corridor of Fame. In 2014, he was inducted into the KYW Newsradio Corridor of Fame, and in 2020, he joined the Temple Basketball Ring of Honour.
