The long-time host of 2REM’s Saturday night request show suffered a turn on Thursday and was taken to the Northern Hospital, where he underwent an operation before suffering a fatal heart attack.

Mr McIvor, 72, had been in Melbourne for a week and was due on air this morning with his racing tips program before hosting Party Time tonight.

In addition to hosting various programs on the Border’s community station, Mr McIvor had been involved in management and organising sponsorship.

Brad George, who now works at Griffith commercial station 2RG, encouraged Mr McIvor to be a radio announcer in the early 1990s.

“He was a lovable sort of bloke, a lot of people are going to be shattered and devastated he’s gone”.

Mr McIvor’s wife of nearly 40 years, Mae, said her husband relished rock ’n’ roll.

“He was music mad. They banned him from trivia nights because his knowledge was that good,” she said.

2REM colleague Joy Metcalf said there was likely to be a tribute show in coming weeks.

Mr McIvor was born in Mildura and moved to Albury in the late 1960s.

After a decade in Melbourne, the McIvors returned to Albury in the mid-1980s.

Mr McIvor is survived by five children and grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are still to be finalised.