A local radio personality has passed away after contracting the H1N1 virus.

Jesse Deer of K103 Radio in Kahnawake, died Tuesday morning.

Despite his young age, Deer was a well-known media personality.

"He just seemed to have the biggest heart of anyone I ever met," said Joe Delaronde of K103.

He co-hosted the afternoon drive show, and was also a newspaper columnist, TV reporter and deejay in the community.

Two years ago, Deer was virtually unknown in Kahnawake until he turned up at K103, eager to learn about broadcasting.

"That little door opened and he was everywhere, from that moment, you couldn't stop Jesse," said Delaronde.

Now Kahnawake media are establishing a memorial scholarship in Deer's name.

Steve Bonspiel, editor of the Eastern Door, said Deer "wanted to unite the community in many ways, and it's ironic that through his death we have done just that."

"What he has created is an idea of what it is to be a future leader and hopefully there will be a continuation of what he did in the first place...to inspire," said K103 host Lance Delisle.

Jesse Deer would have been 24 years old Friday.

K103 has a strong following among Montreal-area youth, broadcasting a heavy dose of hip-hop and R&B music that's been virtually ignored by mainstream stations for decades.