Roger Allan Bump was a people person, those close to him said, a trait that served him well both as a local radio broadcaster and college teacher.

Mr. Bump, who was known in broadcast circles as Roger Allan, died Tuesday of heart failure Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, N.H. He was 79 and lived in Lebanon, N.H., and previously in Sudbury.

He worked at several local radio stations, first as a disc jockey and then working his way up to reporter, news director, and eventually public affairs director at WRKO-AM. He worked at WRKO for 29 years.

"I think what Roger did best was inspire people to be better at this craft [of broadcasting]," said his former student and colleague Jordan Rich, now a talk-show host at WBZ-AM. "He gave people the kind of support that no classroom could ever provide."

Peter Casey, director of news and programming for WBZ radio, said: "He was quite a gentle man and a gentle soul. I think the personal touch was important to Roger, and I think we worked in radio at a time when that was much easier to do."

Mr. Bump was born in Brockton and graduated from Brockton High School in 1949. He served in the Navy for two years and then enrolled at Curry College in Milton, graduating in 1952.

In addition to WRKO, Mr. Bump worked at radio stations in Brockton, Nashua, and Marlborough.

He also taught broadcasting at several local colleges, primarily Curry. Mr. Bump was also dedicated to philanthropic causes, including the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the March of Dimes, and the Shriners Burns Hospital in Boston.

He was also one of the founders of the Sudbury Companies of Minute & Militia, which interprets Colonial period history.

His son Jefrey, of Hudson, said Mr. Bump's sense of humor was infectious.

"He had a running communication with a lot of his friends and me where they would call up and exchange jokes," he said. "He would leave jokes on my answering machine."

In addition to his son, Mr. Bump leaves his wife, Carolyn; four daughters, Jenifer Andrews of West Bolton, Vt., Jadene Patch of Lebanon, N.H., Julie Riddell of Jericho, Vt., and Jilian of Meriden, N.H; and seven grandchildren.

Services are private.