Bob Rivers ~ 1956-2025

HENDERSON, NV — After a courageous and determined three-year battle with esophageal cancer, Robert (Bob) Rivers left this earth on his own terms in Claremont, New Hampshire on the morning of March 11, 2025.

Bob spent his final night at peace in the comfort of his loving wife, Lisa, and two sons, Keith and Andrew, sharing memories and an occasional taste of his favorite, Bob & Lisa maple syrup.

The eldest of eight children, Bob was born in Honolulu on July 6, 1956, to Al and Barbara Rivers and raised in Branford, CT. It was there that he found his life-long passion for radio after winning an on-air contest at the age of seven! True to his nature, it was full speed ahead—subsequently launching a radio station at 14 and conducting on-air interviews with legends such as Paul Harvey, host of the popular *The Rest of the Story!* His first paid airshift was at age 16, and his passion would eventually carry him to a lifelong and successful career in radio, culminating in his induction into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2023!

Bob became Program Director at M106 in Claremont, New Hampshire, taking it from an automated station to album rock and hosting a morning drive show. By the end of 1981, Bob married Elizabeth Berdecki and moved to Worcester, MA, where he started to make his mark with parody songs. His “Twisted Tunes” parodies became a staple of the *Bob & Zip Show* on WAAF, which he co-hosted with Peter “Zip” Zipfel. His parodies, including *Breaking Up is Hard on You!* and *I Am Santa Claus,* gained worldwide popularity.

In 1987, Bob moved to Baltimore’s 98 Rock/WIYY, where he inspired the Baltimore Orioles to end their 23-game losing streak with an on-air sit-in that lasted 259 hours. His stunt won *Billboard*’s Radio Promotion of the Year! He later moved to Seattle, where he hosted *Bob, Spike & Joe* for 25 years, entertaining audiences with insightful interviews and hilarious parody songs.

Beyond radio, Bob was a musician who played keyboards with Spike & The Impalers and Heart by Heart. After retiring from radio in 2014, he and Lisa returned to New England, where he pursued beekeeping, maple syrup production, and even overcame his fear of flying to become a pilot.

Upon his cancer diagnosis in 2022, Bob remained optimistic and checked off bucket-list items, including recording one more *Twisted Tune*, enjoying jam sessions, and sharing final moments with loved ones. His legacy lives on through his contributions to radio, music, and his unwavering passion for life.

Bob is survived by his wife Lisa, his sons Keith and Andrew, his granddaughters Hazel and Georgia, and his six siblings. A private service was held on March 15 in New Hampshire.

The family would like to acknowledge the support of the AA community, smartpatients.com, Dartmouth Health, and the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Nevada. Donations may be made to Black River Innovation Campus in Springfield, VT.