Jerome “YoJ” Ronquillo, a longtime Houston radio personality and KRBE production director, died Thursday at 57. The station announced his death Friday but did not disclose a cause.
Ronquillo joined 104.1 KRBE in 1994 and spent more than three decades at the station, working in several roles. His voice reached Houston listeners through on-air shifts, club broadcasts and commercials. KRBE described him as “one of the most spectacular, charismatic, and hilarious people that walked our radio station hallways.”
Content Director Leslie Whittle confirmed Ronquillo’s most recent role in an email to the Houston Chronicle. The station honored him Friday with on-air tributes and audio clips, and plans to share more memories next week.
Colleagues remembered Ronquillo for his jokes during meetings, his support for University of Houston sports and his skill at smoking ribs. “YoJ was the life of the party,” KRBE wrote.
Ronquillo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Jan. 1, 2026. In March, his friend Paul “Cubby” Bryant started a GoFundMe to help Ronquillo and his wife, Maggie, with medical expenses, including chemotherapy, medications and travel.