John Mack Flanagan, 1970s top 40 disc jockey, dies at 71

John Mack Flanagan, one of the top names in top-40 radio at KFRC, “the Big 610,” in the 1970s, died Saturday of congestive heart failure.

Flanagan died in his sleep at home in Daly City, with his wife of 53 years, Joann Flanagan, by his side. He was 71.

“John was one of those people you worked with and you admired,” said Bobby Ocean, who was on the air at KFRC in 1973 when Flanagan joined the station. “You wouldn’t get to KFRC unless you were really good, and John fit in right away. He had presence, this ability to be on the air with such presence that you could feel him as well as hear him.”

Flanagan spent nearly 40 years in top-40 radio.