Robert J. "Bob" Kevoian

Robert James Kevoian — known to millions simply as “Bob” — co-founder of The Bob & Tom Show and one of the most enduring voices (and recognizable laughs) in American radio history, died peacefully in his home on Friday, April 17, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. He was 75.

Just moments before he died, his last words to his wife Becky were a comfort to all around him: “I’m really enjoying myself.” Becky and their three sons, along with other family members and close friends, were with him at the end, playing his favorite album: The Beatles’ Abbey Road, Side 2. Bob took his last breath as the final notes of “Golden Slumbers” faded. It was, in the words of his broadcast partner Tom Griswold, so “cinematic” and “poetic” that it seemed like it was “out of a movie.”

Along with his devoted family, Bob’s loss will be experienced by the millions of listeners who felt like they knew him intimately, not only because he shared stories of his life with them on a daily basis, but also because he was their companion in their cars and trucks, their workplaces, and their living rooms for long stretches of their lives. Countless online testimonies attest to the lasting impact of the humor, the insight, and the comfort that Bob brought to their days.

Bob was born to his parents, John Hike “Toby” Kevoian and Jean Baker Kevoian, on December 2, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Norwalk, California. Their loud and fun household included two brothers, Dennis and Peter, and a sister Marianne. He formed a lifelong love of Armenian food cooked by his mother and lamb kebobs grilled by his Armenian father. The family often played the game Password at the supper table.

His older brother Dennis says Bob was funny from his earliest days and learned how to make a room full of people laugh, which became a motivation for Bob that lasted all of his days. He received a guitar for Christmas as a young boy (though he had to restring it for a lefty), which propelled him to a life of music and songwriting.

Bob graduated from Norwalk High School, which he called “the home of The Marching Lancers of Norwalk High, under the direction of Monty Labonte.” Longtime listeners know this line by heart. Bob was voted Funniest and Most Talented in his class, which shouldn’t surprise his many friends and fans.

He joined the traveling musical group The Young Americans after leaving his not-so-promising career as a Singer sewing machine repairman. His travels with the Young Americans helped him master the fundamentals of show business and the finer points of running a sound board, and eventually led to his move to northern Michigan, where he decided to settle down.

Bob met his future broadcast partner Tom Griswold in 1980 at Bar Harbor in Harbor Springs, Michigan, where Bob was tending bar to supplement his meager income as a radio DJ. Tom happened in, overheard Bob using radio jargon, and struck up a conversation. Soon the two ended up working together on the air. In 1983, they made the move that changed everything — joining WFBQ-FM, Q95, in Indianapolis. The Bob & Tom Show launched from a downtown billboard, broadcasting in the cold, on March 7, 1983.

The show took Indianapolis by storm and coincided almost perfectly with the Colts sneaking out of Baltimore and relocating to their new home city, making for a very exciting time for everyone. The co-hosts always said that they saw their program as a conversation between two friends: not heard, but overheard. Because the show was broadcasting from a small studio, Bob and Tom couldn’t imagine how many folks were really listening to them. Bob told the tale (often!) of driving with Tom for a remote broadcast around I-465 early in the morning and asking anybody listening to flash their headlights. Much to their surprise, almost EVERY CAR signaled to them. Thus began a domination in local radio that lasted for decades. The show began syndicating across the USA in 1995.

It was practically impossible to traverse Indianapolis without seeing images of Bob and Tom all over billboards, always with Bob on the left in an LA ball cap and Tom on the right. Bob’s ever-present Dodger cap honored his dad, who proudly worked for The Los Angeles Dodgers for 25 years, even earning a 1981 World Series Ring, which Bob treasured the rest of his life. Very few people ever saw Bob without that cap, and his famous mustache was born on June 18, 1969, immediately after he graduated from high school. Never again would anyone see him without it. He proudly celebrated his mustache’s birthday every year on the air.

Both Bob and Tom fell in love with Indianapolis and the greater Midwest, and – despite many lucrative offers to relocate – they stayed. They became primary ambassadors of the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana, even if they occasionally got banned from an area college due to some of their questionable antics during campus visits.

The show became a central part of the lives of many listeners and was a launching pad for a remarkable number of aspiring and established comedians, musicians and sports figures. Through the show, Bob had multiple opportunities to interview one of his longstanding idols: Paul McCartney. Along with McCartney, Bob ranked Dolly Parton as one of his favorite interviews of all time. In addition to meeting notable personalities like these, Bob was always happy to meet listeners and fans, keeping a Sharpie at hand to offer autographs and posing for an infinite number of selfies in every possible context.

Bob and Tom went on to be awarded five Marconi Awards, the highest honor in radio. They were both awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, twice over, Indiana’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of their broadcasting work and community outreach. They were committed philanthropists, donating millions of dollars to charity over the years through the sales of their popular records, tapes, and CDs. Among other causes, they channeled resources to the Peyton Manning Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children. The two were inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2015, where Bob announced his retirement in his acceptance speech.

If Bob were helping write this obituary, he would say, “Please stop talking about my ‘career accomplishments’ and talk about my life off the air!”

He married Helen Lemieur in 1985. They welcomed a son whom they named John Hike Kevoian; they called him “Toby” in honor of his grandfather. Bob married Becky Martin in 2005, and they created a blended family, including her sons Wade and Joey Baertschi. The woods by their house became a shared playground.

Retirement started a new life of freedom from the alarm clock.

Bob and Becky traveled the country in their Airstream trailer, completing the nearly-impossible task of camping overnight in every one of the Lower 48 states. Bob continued playing the guitar and ukulele, continued to write occasional bits and silly songs with his long-time friend and writing partner Whit Grayson, and enjoyed his retired life holding Becky’s hand wherever they went.

In 2023, although he had no symptoms, Bob was diagnosed with a form of gastric cancer. The prognosis was good; he looked online to find encouraging resources that might guide them in their journey. Finding none, Bob, Becky, and their friend Whit embarked on an informative documentary podcast called The Bob and Cancer Show to walk listeners through the process of facing this challenge with honesty and humor.

Bob was a man of many talents and interests; he was a constant whistler, avid golfer, committed Dodgers fanatic, prolific photographer, skilled bartender, accomplished drummer, excellent bowler, unrepentant prankster, supper table comedian, devoted bird watcher, talented family documentarian and movie maker, goofy clown diver for the grandkids, joyful dog lover, and much more. He expressed one lingering regret: he never learned to tap dance. More than anything, he enjoyed his life. And he made sure that everyone around him was enjoying their lives as well. Bob had a gift of making every person with whom he interacted feel like they were the most important person in the world when they were in his presence.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his talented Broadway showman brother Peter, his mother-in-law Dorothy Martin, his beloved sister-in-law Lynne Martin, his brother-in-law Mike Martin, and his dear friend Deb Grayson.

Bob is survived by the woman he often described as “exceptional,” his wife Becky; his three sons, Toby Kevoian (Tatiana Leyva), Wade Baertschi (McKenzie Dobson), and Joey Baertschi (Jennifer); three perfectly perfect grandsons: Andrew Baertschi, and Jude and Finneas Kevoian, who all will miss their playful grandpa very much; his big brother Dennis and baby sister Marianne Baxter, sister-in-law Susan Javorsky (Frank), brother-in-law Yale Martin (Carol), and brother-in-law Rex Martin (Margreth), along with almost innumerable nieces and nephews in his grand extended family. He leaves behind Dobie the Wonder Dog, best friends too numerous to list here (but they know who they are), and millions of listeners who all wish they could hear his hearty laugh one more time.

Details regarding memorial services will be shared at a later time.