John Harada passed away suddenly from a bacterial infection on Monday night, however his legacy will forever live on in Woodstock.
WOODSTOCK - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Harada.
Harada was a 35 year radio veteran and was also a great family man who leaves behind his wife Ingrid, his children and two grand kids. Harada worked at Heart FM when the station first opened and was the morning show host from 2010 to 2013. Program Director Dan Henry says Harada was extremely well liked in Woodstock and still had a connection with the Friendly City even after he left.
"He always made it a point to come back, he came on the show with me, a couple of times over the years, just to say, hey I'm still in British Columbia, I have a second grand child now, he loved staying in touch with the communities that he served as far as being a broadcaster."
Henry notes he also loved his family and would often speak fondly of his children.
"John loved talking about his kids and he loved the fact that his daughter Rachel would come out to these wonderful hockey games that John used to organize. John orchestrated these games called Heart FM and Friends and we went to communities in Stratford, Tavistock, Norwich and of course Woodstock. John would bring in stars like Gilbert Dionne, Mike Torchia and his friend Ryan Darcy but Rachel would also play with us. He was very proud of her, her University team and other teams went on to win a number of championships and he was always talking about his kids and his grand kids and that is something he was very, very proud of."
Henry says one thing Harada will always be well known for, is bringing some huge names to the Friendly City.
"He brought Faber Drive into the Heart FM studios, they brought their tour bus and they invited John and our other morning show host to their concert that night as well. He also orchestrated an interview and set things up with Donny Osmand to come to Woodstock and do a show with him and Liz at the time at the Quality Hotel and Suites, so that was another feather in his cap, of a moment that he really, really liked in radio."
John Macintosh was the General Manager at Heart FM and worked with Harada for several years, the two kept in touch when they both parted ways. He says Harada was the only man in Woodstock who could get away with teasing the Police Chief and the Fire Chief.
"John could get interviews with just about anybody, I mean the fact that he was able to get Donny Osmand, he and Liz, to get him to come to Woodstock. He would interview all the local officials in Woodstock and Oxford County, he would poke fun and get them laughing, people with some big senior roles and responsibilities, the Mayor, the Fire Chief, the Police Chief etc, they would laugh on air and off air, they would be high fiving, shaking hands and all the rest of it. That's just who John was, he was really natural and made people feel at ease when they spoke with one another. He had a big heart, Johnny had a big heart, I'm going to miss him, I do miss him."
Harada worked with many people during his career in radio. Liz Wismer Van Meer was his co-host during his time in Woodstock and she has nothing but great memories of the man.
"Harada and I shared the airwaves as the morning show team for three years. That was three years of putting up with his really bad joke of the day; and trust me they were really bad. We shared a lot of great memories and met a lot of amazing people. Seven years later I know our Donny Osmond Day show was a highlight for both of our careers; but we both loved sharing our show with the amazing people in our community, sharing their stories and getting to work with them. John loved radio, hockey but most of all he loved his family - I still remember the day he became a grandfather. The guy was beaming with pride. Harada will be missed by many. From Songs in Showers, trivia, to watching you try to figure out why your desk was getting higher - thanks for memories Harada."
Harada was also well known for his show on Rogers TV in Woodstock called Harada. Station Manager of Rogers TV for South Western Ontario Jeremy Parking says Harada deeply cared about the community.
"The whole purpose of the show was to raise awareness about the great community activities, groups and the people of Woodstock and surrounding areas who were doing great things. When I think of John Harada, I think about how community oriented he was, he would do anything for the community he was working in to help make an impact for everyone. John was advocate for good things in Woodstock and he always brought his own special energy. When I think back to the Harada show on Rogers TV, it was his show and his style and for me, a lot of great memories of John Harada during his time at Rogers TV."
He passed away suddenly from a bacterial infection in British Columbia on Monday night.
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