SYRACUSE — Former local radio personality and programmer Peter McElvein, known for awhile by his on-air alias “Pete McKay,” has died, according to an obituary shared by a longtime CNYRadio reader.
McElvein was 76 years old when he died on January 30 at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Born in Buffalo, McElvein earned a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in 1971, adding a master’s degree in 1984.
Like many broadcasters who came to Syracuse for college, McElvein got his first job here — and wound up staying here. He first gained popularity under the name “Pete McKay” on WHEN and WOLF during what he called “the golden days of local AM radio.”
During a career that spanned nearly 50 years, McElvein would wind up working in both radio and TV. For a time, he worked at Fox 68 (WSYT) and eventually got to work in both forms of media at the same time at WCNY. While primarily serving as the program director for Classic FM (WCNY-FM) for 15 years, he also had some responsibilities for PBS affiliate WCNY-TV, until retiring in 2013.
In retirement, McElvein continued to produce and host the religious television program “Tradition Today” on public access cable. According to his obituary, the show’s 30-year run ended 2019.
We also remember McElvein as a reader and contributor to CNYRadio.com. In addition to providing updates about goings-on at WCNY-FM, he helped us fill a slot for our “Picture of the Week” feature once in 2012, sharing a 1977 newspaper photo where he and other WHEN personalities played a charity softball game against staff from the now-defunct Syracuse Herald-Journal.
Here’s that clip again: McKay is circled in yellow. (The green circle points out his WHEN colleagues, from left to right: Jim Shafer [partially hidden, wearing glasses], Ray Diorio and “Captain” Gordon Spooner.)
McElvein is survived by three bothers and two godsons, along with several nieces and nephews. Calling hours are tonight (Feb 3) from 5-7pm at Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, 401 Hamilton St, Syracuse, with services to follow at 7pm. Funeral services are tomorrow at 10am at the church. Burial will take place in the spring.
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