John Murtha
This issue of Sky Studio is dedicated to John Murtha who passed away April 18, 2026 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Sky Studio Issue 115, added here April 21, 2026
Long time broadcast colleague and friend Jeff McNeice, said, “ Sad, sad news …. A long battle with effin cancer, claims the life of Johnny Murtha. We worked FOREVER in radio, back when John was in Elliot Lake and I was in Espanola. John moved from his hometown Lindsay and I started in Espanola. I lost a great, gentle man. RiP Johnny. Say hi to daddy while you're up in Heaven, singing American Pie. My Heartfelt Condolences to Maria and your girls on this sad occasion.”
Another longtime colleague and friend Bruce Krause, commented, “Johnny was a good-natured fellow with a wide range of interests and very adept at his craft. He loved meeting with newsmakers and dependably brought the news to Q104 listeners for many years. I will miss his good-natured approach and comfortable manner.”
In his retirement as a secondary school educator, Bob Tisdall did some weekend radio news coverage and recalls, “John was a dedicated newsman who worked hard to get the details right. As a part-timer I would come in after several days away from the newsroom, and John was always ready to take a few minutes to make sure I was up to date on what was happening and fill me in on the background behind the news of the day.”
Sault Star reporter Elaine Mills posted, “Sincerest condolences Maria, Joanna and Angela. Know that all three of you were the light of John’s life and the centre of his universe. As a friend for 35 years we will always remember John’s infectious smile, his hearty laugh, and his desire to have a good time. He was thoughtful, caring and compassionate. He was honest, generous and forgiving. He had all the qualities of a wonderful husband, father and friend. Cherish your memories. Keep him close to your heart and he will always be with you and keeping you safe. Lots of love, Elaine and Rod Mills.”
Another Sault broadcast colleague, Shelley Wright posted, “Deepest condolences, Maria, Joanna and Angela. John was a professional, steady presence in the newsroom and one heck of a good guy. He will be remembered and missed by those of us who had the great fortune to work with him. Wishing you strength and comfort as you navigate this loss.”
Since 1934 city/district residents and visitors were served by thousands of local newscasts and hundreds of reporters and news readers until a 2020 Rogers radio corporate decision ended that service. The last newscast from a Sault, Ontario radio news reporter was delivered by John Murtha. It’s a certainty that the many who served in broadcast newsrooms here over the decades would all agree the final news voice was that of a broadcaster who carried their legacy with care and distinction.
Special Announcements:
MURTHA, John - Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie - Sault Ste. Marie News
Obituary of John Murtha | Northwood Funeral Home Cremation and Rece...
John Murtha, middle surounded by broadcast colleagues and friends.
In ongoing efforts to make Sky Studio more complete, this issue also acknowledges and adds to our honour role:
These two news reporters:
Victor Haft -- Vic was one of the original shareholders with Grant Hyland at CJIC Radio in 1934 and did on-air work as well, notably as a news reader, among the earliest known of in Sault Ste. Marie. Haft later sold his interest and became a successful Queen Street merchant with Vic Haft Furniture. He was a prominent member of the Kiwanis Club of Sault Ste Marie and B'nai Brith Sault Ste Marie. Broadcaster and in later years a station owner, Russ Hilderley recalls, “Vic Haft had a beautifully deep, full bodied voice, and was also in Sales for Grant Hyland in the earliest years of CJIC when they operated from the second floor over the beveraging rooms of the Windsor Hotel.”
Harvey Kirck - (1928-2002) Born in New Liskeard, Kirck moved with his family to Toronto in 1943. His career began in radio at Sault Ste. Marie's CJIC in 1948, then on to CKBB in Barrie, Ontario, CKXL in Calgary, Alberta, and CKEY and CHUM in Toronto in the 1940s and 1950s. On December 3rd, 1983, Harvey Kirck could lay claim to being the first broadcaster on a coast-to-coast network to anchor a nightly television news broadcast for 20 consecutive years. He became a TV network newscaster even before CBS' Walter Cronkite and before NBC's Huntley and Brinkley, and lasted longer than any of them. For an occupation notorious for brief career expectancy, such broadcast longevity was unusual. http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/kirck-harvey and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Kirck