Don Carney, a steady foil of Phil Rizzuto’s while producing and/or directing Ch. 11’s Yankee telecasts for nearly 40 years, passed away Saturday near his retirement home in Florida. He was 79.

A pianist by training, Carney took special pleasure in producing anything musical that Ch. 11 presented, from the St. Patrick’s Day parade to the Young People’s Concerts from Philharmonic Hall.