R.I.P.: Longtime PA Broadcaster Dave Hanahan of WMVL

Dave Hanahan

"He was interested in the local connection radio had. He was so passionate about the community and passionate about causes such as helping others and nonprofit organizations that needed their voice to be heard. He's going to be missed terribly."

Those words shared by Joe Vilkie, owner of WMVL 101.7 FM CoolFM, about his former colleague Dave Hanahan, were echoed by many Saturday afternoon.

"Dave was just one of the genuinely nicest people in radio," said Meadville Tribune writer Keith Gushard, a former co-worker of Hanahan's. "He loved sports. He loved people. He loved being on the radio. He loved the communities he was in whether it was the Meadville area or Shenango Valley."

Hanahan's wife, Linda, shared news of Dave's death early Saturday afternoon. Dave lost his two-year battle with cancer at 12:40 p.m. at the age of 69, according to the Meadville Tribune.

Dave spent more than 45 years in the radio industry, with a good portion of that time — 17 years, to be exact — at WMGW, then WZPR. He also spent time broadcasting at 790 WPIC in the Shenango Valley.