ORLAND – An unofficial tradition among WERU-FM Friday night DJs has been to call each other up during their shows and playfully insult each other.

“It was a little game that was played,” WERU-FM General Manager Matt Murphy said Wednesday. “Someone would call up another Friday night DJ and tell him his show sucked. It was definitely a compliment to get a call, though.”

Patrick Elshaw, aka Patrick J, one of the chief instigators of this tradition, died at the age of 45 on Christmas Day from a pulmonary embolism. The Hampden resident is survived by his wife, Cindy, and his two children, Anton, 11, and Natalie, 8.

According to his colleagues at WERU, Elshaw was always on the cutting edge of music, having hosted his show “No Toes Up” from 10 p.m. to midnight every Friday since the station’s inception in 1988.

“A typical show would go back to some early alternative classics like XTC and R.E.M., up through newer stuff like Belle and Sebastian and Death Cab for Cutie,” said Murphy. “His programming really did influence a number of other people to become involved as DJs in the first year or two of the station.”

Mike Overton, a fellow DJ and personal friend, met the Hampden native through one of the first organizational meetings for WERU in 1987.

“At the time the sense was that WERU was going to be a folk-oriented station,” said Overton. “Patrick and I were driven by rock ‘n’ roll and alternative music though, and we were going to make damn sure we were going to get that kind of stuff on the air. He was passionate about music and getting it out there, because it certainly wasn’t getting on commercial radio.”

Murphy said Elshaw was a valued member of the WERU community, and was respected by other DJs.

“He was extremely likable and warm, with a very dry sense of humor,” said Murphy. “He was also very thoughtful – not just about music, but about how the organization functioned and how people were treated. If there was ever a major issue he was one of the people whose opinion you’d seek out. He was respected and loved.”

In addition to being a DJ, Elshaw served on WERU’s programming advisory committee, and organized many of the musical events at the Full Circle Fair in recent years. He was also a volunteer assistant music director. Outside of his duties at WERU, he worked at Bangor Savings Bank.

Overton said he used to think his friend was close-minded when it came to music, but saw his tastes broaden over the years.

“We used to argue about music all the time. But he was always patient with everyone, even when he disagreed with their take on music,” Overton recalled. “I could never get him to listen to hip-hop, but recently I’d hear his show and think ‘Patrick never would have played stuff like this years ago.’ Lots of stuff with world influences, things like that. I guess the older you get the wiser you get. He had a fantastic show – there really was nothing else like it on the air.”

In 2005 alone, the station has lost three DJs – first John Babcock in January, then Charlie Oldham in June, and now Elshaw.

“One of the things we’ve done is have a DJ host the final show of a colleague who has passed on,” said Murphy. “Kind of a tribute show in their time slot.”

Overton, who will host the final broadcast of “No Toes Up” on Friday night with Kim Mitchell and Michael Domrad, hopes to provide a fitting tribute.

“Talking about Patrick and his music and his life will be really, really hard,” said Overton. “I hope I can handle it. He’ll be missed.”

Gifts and donation in Patrick Elshaw’s memory may be made to WERU Radio, P.O. Box 170, East Orland, ME, 04431. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.