In recent years, Jim LeCorchick would take his dog Gypsy with him to work.

While LeCorchick talked about sports or politics, or whatever happened to be on his mind that day, she would perch near the radio studio's windows at 1 Boston Store Place in downtown Erie overlooking State Street.

Sometimes, Gypsy, a border collie mix he rescued after making an appearance at the Humane Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania,�could be overheard on the air barking at passing snow plows.

As far as Allan Carpenter is concerned, there is no better way to sum up who LeCorchick was and what he was about.

"A lot of times when people pass we say they were one of a kind, and usually that's not true," said Carpenter, LeCorchick's longtime colleague at WJET-AM/1400. "He really was, especially in the world of broadcasting where a lot of us spend a lot of time trying to sound professional. Jimmy was never interested in being anything but Jimmy."

LeCorchick died Thursday morning after collapsing at the WJET studios. He was 69.

EmergyCare medical personnel and Erie firefighters responded to reports of cardiac arrest at 6:10 a.m., around the time when LeCorchick was to go on the air for his 6 to 9 a.m. morning show on WJET-AM/1400.

LeCorchick walked into the nearby Rocket 101 radio studio at around 6:05 a.m., said "call 911," and collapsed, said Carpenter,�news director for WJET radio and on-air personality at Rocket.�

"He was taken to (UPMC) Hamot, but I think he had already passed," Carpenter said. "I think he was just coming out of a news break. He may have just started his show."

Erie County coroner Lyell Cook confirmed the cause of death but had no additional information.

LeCorchick served as a commentator for both the WJET-AM and the WFNN-AM/1330 Sports Blitz afternoon show. He also served as a play-by-play and color commentator for a variety of area college and high school sports throughout the years.

He was known for his outspoken opinions, his vast knowledge of Erie sports, and his signature use of the words "tremendous" and "unbelievable."

"He really provided a perspective on the history and the names from the past that's lacking with young athletes today," said Seneca High School football coach Dave Frank, an Iroquois High School graduate who grew up listening to LeCorchick and called in to his afternoon show on Monday. "There's just a huge void now. I don't know if one person can fill it."

LeCorchick frequently talked politics on the WJET morning show. On the�WFNN website he described his political leanings as "Independent,�dislike all politicians equally."

He also operated a website called JRLSports.com that focused on local coaches and athletes and frequently included his online exchanges with site visitors on a variety of topics.

The Cathedral Preparatory School graduate was a fan of the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians and Notre Dame football. LeCorchick also�was a writer for the Erie Times-News decades ago.

Lifelong friend Jim Marnella, who met LeCorchick when the two played in the same Little League, graduated two years ahead of him at Prep and later worked dozens of football games with him.

"I'm sure he's up in heaven right now and he's angry that he's not going to be able to watch the Indians and Toronto Blue Jays," Marnella said of the American League Championship Series, which opens Friday night. "I'm going to miss him."

John Reilly first met LeCorchick in 1987 when Reilly was hired as an assistant by Gannon basketball coach Tom Chapman. The two became friends and frequent racquetball partners.

When Reilly returned as Gannon's head coach in 2005, they picked up where they left off.

"It would be hard to find someone with a deeper love of Erie sports than Jim," Reilly said. "He loved Gannon, and he was very loyal. He was always somebody I felt was on my side through the good times and the tough times."

Staff writer Gerry Weiss contributed to this story.

John Dudley can be reached at 870-1677 or by email. Follow him on twitter at twitter.com/ETNdudley.