Temple

RIP Harry Donahue

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Oct 29th, 2025 · 8:13 PM EDT

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October 29th, 2025 will go down as one of the all-time crappy days in Philadelphia broadcasting history. Not only did we lose the legendary Pierre Robert, but we lost another iconic voice in Harry Donahue, who passed at the age of 77:

We’re deeply saddened by the passing of longtime Voice of the Owls, Harry Donahue.

A Philadelphia broadcasting legend, his Temple career spanned five decades, bringing the passion and pride of Temple Athletics to fans across the city and beyond.

Our love and thoughts go out to… pic.twitter.com/q4GPdT2AeV

— Temple Owls (@TempleOwls) October 29, 2025

Donahue was known firstly for his longtime work at KYW Newsradio, which he joined in 1974 as a freelancer. He anchored both morning news and sports for the station, beginning in 1979, and for 35 years held that role until retiring in 2014 as one the most recognizable voices in local broadcast journalism.

He was the guy that Philly kids woke up and listened to on a snow day to see if school was cancelled. Harry also served as the radio and television voice for Temple football and basketball while contributing to all sorts of other sports items, as explained in his Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia profile:

(Donahue did) play-by-play for the Philadelphia Eagles pre-season games on KYW-TV (CBS 3); WPHL-TV’s telecasts of Philadelphia 76ers basketball; and college basketball for ESPN’s Atlantic Ten Conference Game of the Week. His voice over experience includes 15 years at NFL Films and numerous radio and TV spots.

He was the play-by-play voice for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL. He has also hosted “Center Court,” the pre-game, half-time, and post-game shows for the Philadelphia 76ers telecasts.

His sports reporting has won him two Pennsylvania Associated Press Awards for his coverage of the Philadelphia Phillies’ playoff and World Series victories in 1980. In May 2000, Donahue was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Longtime colleague Mike DeNardo has the byline on an Audacy story in which it says Donahue had been battling cancer. Harry grew up in Olney and went to St. Joe’s Prep and St. Joe’s University. He was a really nice guy who always made time for everyone.

RIP.