John McMaster was a big part of the Valley Heritage Radio family. Besides his vast knowledge of technical equipment, he also did some on-air duties and was the fellow who made the remote Hunt Camp Live broadcasts possible.

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Eganville – An Eganville native who spent 45 years working with the person he met when they were nine years old, is remembering his late team-mate, business partner, and co-worker as one of those rare one-of-a kind personalities he was truly blessed to have known.

John McMaster died suddenly at his Jane Street home in Eganville last Wednesday morning and longtime friend and co-worker Gerry Bimm honored him in a commemorative post on social media last week.

Ironically, it was mere weeks earlier that Mr. Bimm was at the ceremony where MPP John Yakabuski awarded the King Charles Coronation Medals to four recipients, and Mr. Bimm shared how happy he was that his friend was scheduled to turn 65 on January 31 and retire on February 1.

“Today, I am shocked and saddened at the passing of my oldest friend, John McMaster,” his post began.

Their friendship began through their involvement in the Eganville Minor Hockey program as nine-year-old’s, and continued throughout their time at Opeongo High School.

“We kept in touch across town during the CB radio craze of the 1970s,” he recalled. “Our later teens saw us team up with Elroy Schroeder, John Brooks, and Vic Munro, among others, as we sowed all our teenage wild oats, and did all the usual stuff young lads did in the Valley during that era, including a lot of the usual antics that we later all scolded our children for.”

He noted how he, Mr. McMaster, and the late Mr. Schroeder started a mobile DJ business that ran for close to 10 years, again providing much adventure and many late nights.

‘When I went to work at CHRO TV in 1979, John followed a few months later, and that kept us together for just under 30 years on a daily basis,” he explained.

It was during that period that Mr. McMaster met his future wife, Helen (Mohns), who, Mr. Bimm stressed, was a great influence on him.

“I know how much he loved her, because he spoke of her every day,” he recalled.

When CTV let the pair go in 2009, they started a small video production business, and Mr. Bimm also went to work at Valley Heritage Radio (VHR).

“In a couple of years, VHR needed a production person, and I recommended John,” Mr. Bimm said. “Needless to say, he got the job, and we were re-united again, for another 13 or so years.

“I must say that all of John’s McGyver skills were needed at VHR, and he was the unsung glue that held that place together,” he added. “He was solely responsible for recommending, sourcing, and figuring out how to use the tech equipment that allowed us to do live remote broadcasts from the road — the only radio station in the valley that was doing it at the time, and still to this day.”

He said this ability opened up many new adventures for them, as they spent the next 10 years or so broadcasting from hunt camps and all sorts of gatherings all over the region, all while making more memories.

“And when we needed the voice of Maxwell Smart, or one of many other zany characters that John carried around in his head, we knew who to go to.”

He said when Mr. McMaster turned 65 and took his well deserved retirement, he was looking forward to hanging out with him again, and maybe reliving a bit of that time period from 45 years ago.

“Or maybe we would have just gone to the mall to drink coffee and hang out like all the other old, retired guys. It’s such a shame that he and Helen won’t get to enjoy his retirement years that they were looking forward to.”

Mr. Bimm said he could easily write a book, complete with photos, on his adventures with Mr. McMaster, adding it would be a thick book with lots of great tales.

“If there’s one thing that always amazed me about John, it was the fact that he had no enemies, and he liked everyone back,” he said. “I wish I could say the same about me.

“I will close by saying simply that we have lost a great lad, truly one of a kind. If there were more John McMasters around, the world would be a much better place.”

Valley Boy

The management and staff at VHR expressed their sadness at having to announce Mr. McMaster’s passing, just weeks after congratulating him on his retirement. 

“Not even three weeks after we posted that valued VHR and Hunt Camp Live staff member John McMaster had just turned 65 and retired from the station … today we have sad news to share, their post began.

“Yesterday morning, John passed away and the news sent a shockwave through all of us who worked with him and considered him a friend. He was an old-school Valley boy in all the best ways,” it continued.

They described Mr. McMaster as a hard worker, loyal friend who was always quick with a laugh. “He loved a challenge and truly believed there was more than one way to get a job done,” it stated. “He loved and cherished his wife and family above all else.

“We’ll miss you, Johnny Mac … and our thoughts and prayers go to Helen and your family and friends. Your spirit will live on here at the station, as well as across the Ottawa Valley … especially in your hometown of Eganville … as you called it, “The Hub of the Universe.”

Denzil Ferguson, President of the Valley Heritage Board of Directors, said Mr. McMaster’s passing caught the board and staff totally off guard because he was always at the station and always so willing and eager to help people.

“And he was a fun person to be around,” he added. “He’d always have a joke for you or make up a joke or something.”

Mr. Ferguson described him as a visible person at the station, always greeting those who came through the door.

“It’s just a real unfortunate situation and he was looking so forward to his retirement. He never got rattled over anything and if he didn’t know how to do something, he would make up his mind to do it.”

In addition to his expertise in information technology, Mr. McMaster read the obituaries on air daily and also did some newscasts. He was also the voice of the community events schedule.

“He was readily available and willingly did anything,” he said.

Members of the board and station staff were meeting in Renfrew for a strategic planning session when they received the sad news.