R.I.P.: Dan Geary, Longtime Erie Radio Personality

Dan Geary

Memorial services have been announced for Dan Geary, a longtime Erie radio personality. Dan Geary, known as “Captain Dan,” died of natural causes Thursday, March 3, at the age of 72.

Geary was a fixture on local radio for more than 50 years, having taken a part-time job in the industry at the former WWGO (WRTS-FM/Star 104).  At the time of his death, Geary worked as the morning disc jockey, playing oldies music, and the general manager of WMCE AM/FM stations, which are owned by LECOM Radio in Erie. Mercyhurst University owned the station when Geary began working for it.

Geary worked in the radio business for 55 years. He worked at many local stations, including WWGO, WJET, Classy 100, and WMCE LECOM Radio.

During his career, Geary was both a local newsman, working for a time as “Sean McGregor on JET radio news” and a disc jockey.

For 35 years, he woke up Erie on morning radio, most notably as Captain Dan of the original Breakfast Club on Classy 100.

"Dan — in the best possible way — was always 'on,' he was always entertaining," Allan Carpenter told goerie.com. "He was always joking. He was always reacting. It just never stopped, on- or off-air with him. When I was working with him at Froggy for all those years, I was still somewhat inexperienced at that point. And he was already well-established and really kind of already on the radio Mount Rushmore of Erie. He was such a strong presence and a strong personality.