ATLANTA -- Mike Kavanagh, the award-winning "Money Matters Radio Talk Show" host on News/Talk 750 WSB, died Saturday after suffering a heart attack at his home in suburban Atlanta. He had just turned 57 that day.

WSB Radio news director Chris Camp said Kavanagh was on vacation when he passed away. Camp said Kavanagh had a heart attack while putting up holiday decorations. Camp said Christmas was Kavanagh's favorite time of year.

Kavanagh's 18-year career at WSB Radio included 15 years as co-anchor of "Atlanta's Evening News" on News/Talk 750 WSB alongside Lisa Campbell before hosting "Money Matters."

"Mike was an incredible talent, my longtime co-anchor, but most of all, my dear, dear friend. I will miss sharing our stories, and hearing about how much he loved Grace. There will never be another Kavanagh," Campbell told WSB Radio.

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"Mike had a way of making you feel like things would be ok -- that as bad as things have been for folks in the past year, things would get better." – wsbtv.com visitor comment l BELOW: Send Your Condolences

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Kavanagh’s long and respected journalism career included work in the early days of CNN both as a radio anchor for daily business news and as a TV anchor for "CNN Headline News." His career spanned the country, including stops in Washington, D.C., and New York.

He was part of a noted team that backed up consumer advocate Clark Howard and was a recipient of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow award.

"He cared about every last person he dealt with about what would happen to them financially," said Howard. "Especially in this last year, he would shepherd people through the crisis. After a while that can begin to wear on you," Howard told WSB Radio.

Kavanagh is survived by his wife Grace, a daughter and granddaughter.