The odds of something positive resulting from a group of journalists on Twitter talking about a colleague might seem remote. But when it came to honouring Vancouver radio legend and active Catholic Andy Walsh, there was a remarkable absence of journalistic cynicism.

Broadcasters who had worked with Walsh over the decades were glowing with praise for the long-time radio anchor, who died Saturday at 90 after a battle with cancer.

Walsh’s broadcast career of more than 65 years brought an outpouring of tributes on John Ackermann’s Twitter post.

“Truly a lovely man.” “A true gentleman and pleasure to work with.” Several posted “rest in peace.”

The radio veteran was remembered as much for his kindness as for his remarkable voice. Broadcaster Don Lehn said, “Andy refused to let me take overnight transit when we did the three years of weekend mornings. He would drive from Richmond to my East Van Apartment and then head to News1130.”

Jill Drews called Walsh “a fine broadcaster and class act individual in general. What a privilege it was to get the chance to work with him. He also drove my grandma to church every Sunday once she became too old to take the bus.”

Walsh’s churchgoing wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knew him. Since 1969 Walsh and his family were parishioners at St. Joseph the Worker in Richmond where he was on parish council, served as an extraordinary minister of Communion, and, of course, was the lector with the golden voice.

B.C. Catholic tech columnist and Vancouver radio aficionado Peter Vogel said, “To me he was the voice of QM/FM when that station ruled the FM airwaves.”

He noted Walsh remained at News1130 for two decades until retiring in 2017 at age 85. “Not many make it to retirement in the radio business,” Vogel said.

Andy and Beatrice Walsh in 2004. (B.C. Catholic files)

B.C. Catholic contributor and veteran journalist and broadcaster Terry O’Neill called Walsh, “One of THE Vancouver voices, whether as a DJ at QM FM or as a newsreader.” With his rich voice, Walsh was “reassuring and reliable,” said O’Neill. “In a way, he was our local Walter Cronkite. If Andy said it, you could trust it.”

Walsh’s professionalism was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada in 2004. In 2012 he was inducted with former CTV news anchor Lloyd Robertson into the Canadian News Hall of Fame, joining legends like Pierre Berton and Peter Gzowski.

But Walsh’s Catholic bona fides were as impressive as his journalistic credentials. He emceed archdiocesan events including Focus on Life dinners and in 1984 was chosen for the privileged role of announcer before 70,000 people at B.C. Place for the visit of Pope John Paul II. In 1988 he was the voice of Mother Teresa’s visit to Vancouver.

Despite the hectic hours of the news business, Walsh found time to raise a family, although he told B.C. Catholic reporter Laureen McMahon that his wife Beatrice deserved her own award for raising six children while married to someone working a radio newsman’s hours.

Andy Walsh at B.C. Place for Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1984. (B.C. Catholic files)

He was also active in pro-life causes and volunteering for SOS Children’s Village Society.

A Catholic convert before marrying Beatrice, he said the greatest satisfaction of his career had been “associating with many wonderful people in a business which I continue to find exciting and satisfying.”

In interviews with Walsh in 2004 and 2012, McMahon captured Walsh’s love of job and family, writing that “the Montreal-born Walsh (whose name is really Andrew Woloshen)” started out in advertising at 19. “After taking a part-time student job in an advertising firm to help out his family, his resonant voice and well-paced delivery got him noticed, and a number of radio and television people suggested on-air work.”

Walsh submitted an audition tape to radio station CKSF in Cornwall, Ont. “His stirring baritone voice did its magic and he was hired. He became a jack-of-all trades at the station, even doing a western-themed music show as Andy ‘Panhandle’ Walsh. Walsh became his professional name after the station manager suggested it was more audience-friendly.”

After stints at other Ontario stations, Walsh was hired by CJAD in Montreal as a news announcer during the week and a disc jockey on weekends. “Although he spoke Italian only phonetically, he hosted a radio show for an Italian audience which proved to be quite a hit,” wrote McMahon.

Walsh at CJAD in Montreal. (B.C. Catholic files)

The busy six-days-a-week schedule was hard on family life and when Beatrice spotted a newspaper ad for a Vancouver news announcer, Walsh recorded a demo tape for CHQM/CHQM-FM. Within a short time, the family relocated to Vancouver and Walsh found a home at QM for the next 25 years. Six months after joining QM he became news director.

He went on to work at Radio 1040 and in the mid-90s joined News 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver (now CityNews 1130) when it went to a 24-hour-news format, remaining for more than 20 years until he retired in 2017 at age 85.

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