Rensselaer- Robert Lee Hill passed away Monday, May 18th at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born July 12, 1938 and was the son of the late Anthony and Sophia Hill of Rensselaer, NY.
Mr. Hill graduated of St. John’s Academy in Rensselaer and attended Villanova University, Siena College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
He worked for NYSOGS for 10 years as an electrical engineer before starting, owning and operating Regal Broadcasting Corporation and WHRL (W. Hill, Robert, Lee) for 31 years.
He founded the Albany Broadcasters Association. In retirement he worked for the New York State Broadcasters Association and was instrumental in coordinating the New York State Emergency Broadcast System.
In 1998, at the request of the federal government, he went to Bosnia to help teach businessmen how to run free commercial radio and helped found Broadcast Freedom International.
He was past president of the Albany Rotary Club and served on the board of directors as well as received a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
Bob was also on the board of directors for the Rensselaer Boys Club, Rensselaer Community Center, Member of the Hendrick Hudson Male Choir, Member of the Albany Irish Rowing Club and Member of the Quiet Birdmen (QB’s).
In his second retirement he drove for the East Greenbush Central School District.
His passions other than his family, was the radio, flying, traveling and singing.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years Phyllis, their cherished daughter Kristen (Travis) Pelepzuck of Delanson, NY. His brothers Anthony (Eleanor) Hill of Troy, NY; Paul (Shirley) Hill of Merritt Island, FL; Frederick Hill of Sand Lake, NY and sister Nancy (Thomas) Traegler of Colonie, NY and the late William Hill.
Funeral from the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home 1700 Washington Avenue Rensselaer, Friday morning at 9:00 and 10:00 at St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church Herrick Street, Rensselaer where the Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home Thursday from 4 – 8 PM. Interment will be in Holy Sepluchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to Donation Processing, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 for Parkinson’s Research.