Veteran RTM presenter Constance Haslam passes away

PETALING JAYA: Legendary RTM deejay and news presenter Constance Haslam Behr has passed away in Versailles, France.

Constance, better known as Connie, was believed to be in her 70s.

ALSO READ: Constance Haslam's cousin remembers the RTM presenter as upbeat, generous: 'Connie kept in touch with everybody'

She was a household name for those who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s as she played chart-topping hits on the radio and spoke with listeners on her popular show.

Fans, colleagues and friends posted tributes to her on social media upon learning of her death.

Constance's old friend and fellow radio announcer Patrick Teoh announced the news of her death on his Facebook page Monday (Oct 3).

"Today, I woke up to the sad news that an old friend, colleague and former radio announcer, Connie Haslam, has departed for the big radio station in the sky.

"A whole generation of us have listened to her golden voice, reading the news, answering requests and spinning the top hits of the day.

"Farewell Connie, and keep the music playing up there," wrote Teoh.

One James Loke posted on Facebook: "All regular and faithful listeners of Radio 4 from the seventies, I regret to inform you that Constance Haslam Behr (Constance Haslam), passed away yesterday suddenly as I was informed by my legendary deejay, Munira Murad just a few minutes ago. Let us pray for her soul. I'm very sad to hear the news."

Another Facebook user Mohamed Ariff wrote: "RIP Constance Haslam, the RTM DJ and newsreader in the 70s and 80s. My condolences to the family members. May her soul rest in peace."

Facebook user Sunny Nah also wrote a tribute to Constance, describing her as an icon.

Constance was known as one of the golden voices of radio and had opted out of service at age 45 after working for 26 years.

In her glittering career, Constance had interviewed Gloria Estafan, Dionne Warwick, Jose Feliciano, Bjorn Borg, the Bee Gees and Omar Sharif.

In an interview she did with blogger Kak Teh in July 2010, it was said that she had already been in France with her husband Erwin Behr for 10 years at the time.

"For most of us over a certain age, our growing-up years would have been touched by the dulcet tones of Constance Haslam; cheerful and chirpy while delivering request programmes, professional and informative when delivering the news, and warm and friendly during chat shows.

"Hers was the voice you’d like to wake up to or have as a soothing companion during the daily battle with the traffic to work," Kak Teh wrote in her blog post.