Mike McCardell, the popular and strongly conservative co-host of the "WGAN Morning News with Mike and Ken," died Friday while visiting family in Pennsylvania. He was 52.
Cary Pahigian, president and general manager of Portland Radio Group, which owns WGAN and six other radio stations, said Saturday that McCardell apparently died of a heart attack.
McCardell was in Pennsylvania because his younger brother, whose family lives there, died three months ago. "He was in Pennsylvania taking care of these folks," Pahigian said.
WGAN's popular Mike McCardell dies of heart attack
By JOSHUA L. WEINSTEIN, Portland Press Herald Writer
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
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Mike McCardell, the popular and strongly conservative co-host of the "WGAN Morning News with Mike and Ken," died Friday while visiting family in Pennsylvania. He was 52.
Cary Pahigian, president and general manager of Portland Radio Group, which owns WGAN and six other radio stations, said Saturday that McCardell apparently died of a heart attack.
McCardell was in Pennsylvania because his younger brother, whose family lives there, died three months ago. "He was in Pennsylvania taking care of these folks," Pahigian said.
McCardell joined WGAN in 2000, when he was 48. He was a salesman at the time, and had never before worked in radio. But he called in occasionally.
In June 2000, then-co-host Willy Ritch announced he was leaving the station. Around the same time, McCardell, who lived in Dayton, called the show to make a point about gun control.
"This guy Mike calls in," Pahigian said. "He's really smart and really good, so we got the number off caller ID, we called him back and said, 'Mike, it's the radio station.' "
Pahigian asked McCardell if he would consider switching careers. One meeting later, he was a broadcaster.
"We met him, we loved him, we hired him," Pahigian said. "It was like he was born for the job."
At the time, McCardell said he was surprised by the out-of-the-blue call.
"I was pretty skeptical, I'd been in sales all my adult life," he said in 2000. "But it was just a time in my life for a change."
His first co-host was Jim Crocker. More recently, he worked with Ken Altschuler.
McCardell was known around southern Maine for his conservative viewpoint. He was known around the station as a tremendously nice man.
"He knew everyone's name," Pahigian said. "He was just a genuine, wonderful man . . . Everyone liked him and he related to everybody."
Pahigian said McCardell, whose show began at 5:30 a.m., used to arrive at the station no later than 4 a.m. - usually earlier. "His work ethic was admired by everyone," Pahigian said.
"Even though on the air he took a conservative viewpoint and on the talk shows that was his point of view, he never was boorish about it, there was never an ego, never condescending. He was an easygoing, gentle man."
He also was remarkably well-read, Pahigian said.
Pahigian recalled a time he was in his office, taking a magazine quiz about history. "I'm kind of struggling and I'm feeling, well, I might get a 70," Pahigian said.
Just then, McCardell wandered into his office and asked whether he needed some help. "He aced the thing without one multiple-choice necessary," Pahigian said.
McCardell moved to Maine in 1986. He earned a theater degree from the University of Maine, was married and had two daughters.
Pahigian said it is too early for station officials to begin thinking of McCardell's replacement.
Staff Writer Joshua L. Weinstein can be contacted at 791-6368 or at:
jweinstein@pressherald.com I CANNOT BELIEVE THE SPIN ON THIS ARTICLE. HE WAS CONSERVATIVE BUT REALLY NICE...HE WAS CONSERVATIVE BUT GEE, HE WASN'T A BOOR.
WHAT MAROONS.