BRIGHTON — Longtime Brighton radio station manager Charles “Chuck” Herlihy died Aug. 30 after a short illness. He was 67. Herlihy operated the WTIR-FM 91.9 radio station for the Seminole Tribe for more than eight years, located in the Florida Seminole Veterans Building.

“Chuck was very passionate about the radio industry and possessed an impressive wealth of knowledge of all things related to radio broadcasting,” Jordan Reichler, interim executive director of operations for the tribe, said. “I know that I speak for many of us in saying that Chuck was a pleasure to work with and will truly be missed.”

Donna Kahn, who has been the receptionist at the Veterans Building for many years, said she has fond memories of Herlihy, who she and others referred to as the “radio man.”

“This was the kindest man I knew and I will truly miss him,” Kahn said. “He was a heck of a coworker but a friend also. I don’t think there was a mean bone in his body, he never had anything bad to say about anyone.”

Khan recalled when Herlihy had students from the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School (PECS) record their Christmas memories to be broadcast on the airwaves.

“He loved what he did and would always be there for rodeo events, Fourth of July and Veterans Day celebrations. There were many times he would allow visitors to come into the station to get a photo or two,” Khan said.

Herlihy was born and raised in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He worked for many radio stations throughout his career in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida. He held positions as on-air talent, engineer, promoter, program director and general manager, among others.

Tracy Carman said he was Herlihy’s best friend for decades and has known him since 1973. Carman said Herlihy worked in radio in West Palm Beach for a decade and had been involved in “easily a dozen” radio stations in his career.

“He was a very good person, loved by everybody and respected by everybody,” Carman said.

Carman said that while no official cause of death was issued, it was thought to be from a cardiac event at Herlihy’s home. He added that a memorial service was being planned, but that details had not yet been finalized.