R.I.P.: Longtime Lafayette IN Personality Bob Vizza

Bob Vizza

Radio personality  Bob Vizza died April 19 after an extended illness.  He was 65.

Vizza first hit the airwaves in Lafayette in the 80s on what was then known as WXUS-FM. He made the switch to country music at WKOA 105.3 FM in 1989 and worked there until last year.

Vizza's former boss, WKOA Program Director Shamus, told WLFI-TV18  he's going to miss Bob dearly.

"I used to come in here during his shift if I needed a pick me up," Shamus said. "Come in [the studio] and spend 10 minutes talking to Bob Vizza and he'd make you feel better about what you were doing and better about yourself. That's what I'm going to miss the most."

Shamus said Vizza never worked a day in his life.

"When you love what you're doing, you never work. Bob believed that 100 percent. He loved coming in here. He couldn't wait to get on the air. A cup of Coffee, a microphone and some headphones and he was good to go," Shamus said.

Vizza once told an interviewer that he decided to become a disc jockey because the radio was his companion during a lengthy hospital stay as a young child.