Remembering Michael Neff
• Seven Mountains Media (7MM) shared the sad news that veteran broadcaster Michael Neff passed away from COVID-19 on New Year’s Eve at the age of 68.
Amazingly, Neff’s illustrious half-century radio career started at WNBT/Mansfield PA as a high school student, and abruptly ended at the same station group, where he was most recently Market Manager of WNBT (Bigfoot Country 104.5) and Classic Hits WOGA/Wellsboro-Mansfield, PA. He also did middays on WOGA. Neff’s impressive programming resume includes WRAL/Raleigh, WMAL/Washington, WARM/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and WHP/Harrisburg. He also spent ten years at WGY & WGFM/Albany, NY and another decade with Shamrock Communications’ WEJL, WBAX, WQFM & WQFN/Scranton, PA. He also served as Production Director for KDKA/Pittsburgh and WIND/Chicago for Group W.
Neff had returned to his hometown of Mansfield/Wellsboro PA as Market Manager when Seven Mountains Media acquired the stations, and he retired in late 2017… or so he thought… When Neff’s longtime friend and former WARM colleague Jim Loftus joined 7MM in 2018 as COO, he asked Neff to “unretire” and return as an air talent on WOGA. In mid-2020, Neff again stepped into the Market Manager role at WNBT/WOGA, a position he held until his untimely passing.
Like many fellow radio geeks, Neff had a great love for production and jingles — so much so that early in his career he earned the nickname “SuperSplice.” A tribute page highlighting his renowned jingle samplers can be found at jinglesamplers.com/neffsamplers.htm.
Michael Neff will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, mentorship and great sense of humor. He was a true gentleman broadcaster. He is survived by his partner, Connie Judson Myal, his adult children, Elizabethand Kyle, and his grandson, Ewan. A celebration of Michael’s life is tentatively planned around his birthday in October, hopefully when people will again be able to congregate.
