R.I.P.: SW-PA #Radio Personality Bob Tatrn

Bob Tatrn

Bob Tatrn, WKPA Kensington Radio personality for 57 years, died Monday after a fall, according to his son, Rob Jr.

He was 78, according to triblive.com.

For nearly a quarter-century, Tatrn ran the wake-up shift at WKPA 1150AM. In the early 1970s, it was the highest-rated morning block outside the Pittsburgh city limits.

Tatrn, however, was best known for his high school sports broadcasts for more than 50 years.

Forty-one of those 50 years was spent with his broadcast partner, Joe “Pippo” Falsetti, who died in 2006.

His career went from radio, to the dial-up for remote broadcasts, to closed-circuit TV games to satellite broadcasts.

Tatrn later branched out into other forms of sportscasting, hosting “Terrys Back-to-Back” with then-young Steelers quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Terry Hanratty.

He also hosted “Majors in Motion” with then-Pitt head coach Johnny Majors.

Tatrn recently authored two books, “Bob Tatrn’s Sports Minutes: Vols. I and II.” He also hosted sports nostalgia shows over the past several years on WAVL Radio 910 AM and on Comcast channel 190.

“His family was the most important thing to him,” Pavlik said. “The sun rose and set with his wife and children. I think his biggest thrill was watching his grandchildren play sports.”

Friends will be received at the Rusiewicz Funeral Home, 3124 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral Mass will be at St. Margaret Mary Church, Lower Burrell at 10 a.m. Friday.