Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. His fiance stated he was open and helpful to individuals who couldnt speak out against the government because he was unabashedly nasty. Bob Romanik, the Grim Reaper of Radio, died on Sunday, leaving everyone stunned because his demise was unexpected and unexpected. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He served two years probation. In 1999, he was convicted of bank fraud. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Zendaya attends the NAACP Image Awards on February 25, 2023, in Pasadena, California. There was a problem saving your notification. Slaten, the former morning-show host on Romanik's radio home, KQQZ (1190 AM), which was shut down by the Federal Communications Commission, has moved on to Donze Communications. He's probably the nas. Bob died at the age of 72. Though he owned 4 different radio stations and his career was at its peak, the shows that he aired and the statements which he passed were a bit controversial and racial. There are some tribute posts for The Grim Reaper of Radio on Facebook. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Controversial radio host Bob Romanik dead at 72. Bush, St. Louis sole member of Congress, has been visible, vocal supporter of Gardner in past, appearing with circuit attorney on multiple occasions. He wrote a rap song entitled as N-Nation. The station that airs Romaniks weekday show, Kool Killer Kountry, is KQQZ. BEWARE! The leaked documents are the latest in a series of leaks that have become the norm in Caseyville. Listen to Bob Romanik "The Grim Reaper Of Radio", read its reviews and see all its charts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Because he was secretive about his relationships, his family details arent public. During Romaniks interview with Reed, the host started complaining about St. Louis Alderman Megan Ellyia Green, who had been critical of the aldermanic boards handling of issues regarding the football Rams and stadium issues. Details Did Mary Davids Primark Fight Girl Committed Suicide Reason Family More Explained, Details How Did Oriana Pepper Die Trainee Pilot Cause Of Death Instagram Funeral Obituary. His pen name was the Grim Reaper, and he was known for his strong thoughts on controversial topics. Corcoran, who Russell said broadcasts from his new home in Florida, was in court last year after KTRS (550 AM) host John Carney accused him of stalking him and hitting him in the face. In 2012, Slaten was charged with misdemeanor assault after an incident in the Webster Groves studios ofKFNS (590 AM). It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Romanik had been fighting cancer for a long time and had been in hospice care, several sources said. Romaniklost his years long battle with the Commission in Februarywhen an administrative law judge dismissed a case that would have allowed Entertainment Media Trust (EMT) to renew the FCC licenses for KQQZ, talk KFTK (1490), currently silent WQQW (1510) and Cool Oldies KZQZ (1430) and build an FM translator. In 1984, he was hired as Washington Parks police chief, was demoted to patrolman in 1986 and then fired. Kim Gardner faces calls to resign, threat of removal, 4 killed, 4 critically injured in crash at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue, What we know about the suspected driver in volleyball player crash in downtown St. Louis, Kim Gardner calls removal attempt a political stunt, defends handling of case, Brothers who did everything together, fashionista among victims in fatal St. Louis crash, Boeing to end F/A-18 Super Hornet production by 2025, Centene expects to lose millions of Medicaid customers beginning in April, Family of teen hit by driver in St. Louis leans on strength, asks for wave of prayers. Romanik is the host of "Kool Killer Kountry Radio" . Kim Gardners press release about 17-year-old crash victim was tone-deaf and inappropriate, politicians and business leaders say. There is no photo or video of Robert Romanik.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. In February 2020, the FCC permanently dismissed Romaniks application to renew KQQZ 1190 AMs license. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This southwestern Illinois county has the highest median home sale price. On the one hand, the deceased had detractors, but he also had fans. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Your weekly capsule of local news, life advice, trivia and humor from Post-Dispatch columnist Joe Holleman. Romanik, however, defended the racial epithets, contending that his use of them was selective and referred not to race but to ideology that applies to a criminal or corrupt element of society. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The grim reaper of radio. Carolyn P. Smith has worked for the Belleville News-Democrat since 2000 and currently covers breaking news in the metro-east. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. See historical chart ranks, all reviews, and listen to all episodes. He himself called his brand White Awareness Radio, which was shortly known as War. Authorities allege he threatened and spit on a colleague after KFNS dropped his show. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The Variety Power of Comedy show on March 10 will feature Eric Andr, Chelsea Handler, Phoebe Robinson and Tim . In a Washington Post profile written shortly after the Congressional baseball shooting, Romanik admitted it was possible the perpetrator, who like Romanik lived in Belleville, Illinois, likely listened to his program, saying "you'd probably see a lot of people right on the same page (with the shooter) all over the country. He served about one year in prison. APR 10, 2020; Friday April 10, 2020 Friday April 10, 2020. Romanik worked as an East St. Louis police officer and was the chief of police at Washington Park and Valmeyer. Romaniks politics and broadcasts resonated with some. Controversial broadcaster Bob Romanik dies at his Belleville home Missouri House approves changes to electric vehicle Local News / Feb 16, 2023 / 06:34 PM CST Cities and counties could soon. The family of man slain by the suspect who shot the officer is raising funds for his funeral. We are sad to announce that on May 7, 2022 we had to say goodbye to Robert Romanik of Belleville, Illinois. His people requested to wait for any further notifications from the family to be declared. FCC permanently dismissed Romaniks application, He ran for the Illinois House of Representative, Support my work with a digital subscription, Wounded Dupo police officer is doing about as well as can be expected, his wife says, Autopsy results released for Troy man found dead in his home months after being reported missing. A prominent metro-east local sheriff, strip joint entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed "Grim Reaper of Radio" has passed away. Now that radio stations tied to shock-jock Bob Romanikhave gone silent, listeners may wonder what happened toKevin Slaten, another jock with a history of controversy. Venezia was convicted in 1995 of gambling and racketeering charges for running what prosecutors said was a $48 million empire of illegal video gambling and slot machines in dozens of bars and topless clubs in southern Illinois. Bob died when he was 72 years old. Slaten was hired by Romanik several months after that incident. I aint going to quit talking and saying what I want until they cut my tongue out and put me six foot under, Romanik said during a broadcast in 2017 after the Riverfront Times in St. Louis incorrectly reported that KQQZ would change its format and that Romanik would quit. As a Finnish lawyer, Simon Ekpa has made a name for himself in the legal profession. In 1993, Slaten was found guilty of felony and misdemeanor assault for attacking a couple after an auto accident. When the statement came out he was bashed out and the critics contacted the FCC to revoke his broadcasts. He was predeceased by : his parents, Stephen Romanik and Juanita Romanik; and his son Stephen Romanik, II. The lengthy piece takes aim at the foul-mouthed Bob Romanik, who spews invective on the AM dial from a studio in Belleville, Ill., shooter James Hodgkinson's hometown. Slaten, the former. He liked to call himself the "Grim Reaper of Radio" but now the Grim Reaper has come for him. The 72-year-old was in hospice care. In 1997 he obstructed. The Grim Reaper of Radio aka Romanik owned four radio stations, namely KQQZ (1190 PM) in Fairview Heights, WQQW (3.10 pm) in Heights, WQQX (2:00 pm) in East St. Louis, and KZQZ (2:30 pm) in St Louis. A radio host whose show was once declared a platform for "hate speech" is back in headlines this week following a despicably racist rant aimed at Waka Flocka.KQQZ (1190 AM) talker Bob Romanik, in . Information discussed in closed sessions of the Board of Police Commissioners is regularly discussed on Bob Romanik's radio show soon after the meetings, Board member John Buckley said. Bob Romanik lost his fight earlier this year to operate a radio station that featured his daily radio program laced with racist language and now he's lost the "Whites in Politics" signs he . Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, How much? Sanders said some of Romaniks supporters either worked in jobs controlled by politics and, therefore, wouldnt speak freely for fear of reprisals. The charges were connected to a federal investigation into a video gambling ring operated by Thomas Venezia. He's a rich radio vigilante who lives to rail against, what he describes as the "culture of corruption" in local politics,. He was not afraid of them. He later pleaded guilty to peace disturbance and was placed on two years' probation and fined $1,000. Romanik lost his years long battle with the Commission in February when an administrative law judge dismissed a case that would have allowed Entertainment Media Trust (EMT) to renew the FCC licenses for classic country/talk KQQZ, talk KFTK (1490), currently silent WQQW (1510) and . He was unapologetically rude and his fianc said that he was open and helpful to people who cant speak against the government. (72 years old). Bob owned four radio stations: WQQM (3:10 p.m.), KQQZ (11:19 p.m.), WQQX (2:00 p.m.), and KZQZ (2:00 p.m.) (2:30 pm). Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The 72-year-old was in hospice care. 1 spot in Nielsen ratings for the St. Louis metropol, In recent endorsements, the group did not back longtime reproductive rights supporter not to mention progressive flag-bearer Alderman Ca. He was ordered to serve 20 months in federal prison. We are heartbroken to learn of Bobs untimely death. RIP Bob. Sanders said Romanik had many fans who would show up at restaurants and other places he frequented just to say hello and to tell him how much they supported him. Romanik grew up in Millville, New Jersey of a Ukrainian-American family, and played high school football at Millville Senior High School, later serving on the Millville City Commission. In 2015, he experienced the death of his 11-year-old son. Bob is running for Senate in Illinois District 57. Zendaya's first red-carpet look of 2023 featured a show-stopping vintage dress. He died at 11:17 a.m. Saturday at his home in the Belleville area, said St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. 'The Grim Reaper of Radio' aka Romanik owned four radio stations, namely KQQZ (1190 PM) in Fairview Heights, WQQW (3.10 pm) in Heights, WQQX (2:00 pm) in East St. Louis, and KZQZ (2:30 pm) in St Louis. He named his label White Awareness Radio, which became known as War quickly. He admitted to defrauding two banks of about $1.5 million to build topless nightclubs in the metro-east. It wasnt the only time Romanik ran afoul of government and the law. In a related civil suit, Slaten was ordered to pay $130,000. Ohio State Buckeyes guard Sean McNeil played for West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins from 2019-22, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. Russell said Slaten's talk show could eventually be heard on the Donze's AM spot. Sanders said she had known Romanik for 40 years. In 1997, he pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in the investigation of racketeer Tom Venezia and Belleville lawyer Amiel Cueto. "And we're working on syndicating him. Excerpts: The nation was shocked . (had to hit and run) on You have permission to edit this article. Genevieve company that operates two stations,KBDZ (93.1 FM) and KSGM (980 AM), and employs another controversial jock, J.C. Corcoran. Best Podcasts By City Discover, listen and subscribe to the best podcasts of 2023 worldwide. Would you like to offer Robert Romaniks loved ones a condolence message? Romanik has since been convicted twice on felony counts and now runs strip clubs and radio stations. He was a friend of mine. He was able to fight for people who couldnt fight for themselves. On Sunday, tragic news broke that Bob Romaniks The Grim Reaper of Radio had died. He also pleaded guilty to defrauding the United States and obstructing justice for facilitating an illegal gambling operation in 1998. After being released, Romanik worked as a real estate market researcher and then as a private investigator for Cueto until the state revoked his license due to his criminal convictions. You see, before Bob Romanik was a racist radio show host, he was a racist and corrupt police chief in Washington Park, Ill. The station that airs Romanik's weekday show, Kool Killer Kountry, is KQQZ. Bob Romanik American radio host dead at age 72 Bob Romanik American radio host. At the time, he functioned as a corrupt police chief in. About. lost his years long battle with the Commission in February. Bob Romanik (@BobRomanik) | Twitter Bob Romanik @BobRomanik The Grim Reaper of Radio Belleville, IL bobromanik.com Joined March 2018 Tweets Tweets & replies Media Bob Romanik @BobRomanik 15 Mar 2018 And The Elites had the audacity to lecture the honourable Roy More about his girlfriends. Bob was outspoken, she said. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Romanik owned and hosted a radio show on country/talk KQQZ (1190). Robert maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Stephen Romanik, Brian Dixon, Keaton Cheffer, Earl Schmitz and Scott Lutton. The four radio stations eventually had their licenses stripped in 2021 by the FCC. Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Kevin Slaten moves to Ste. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Dedicated to talking on the controversy, join hosts Michael Inzlicht & Yoel Inbar on this podcast and get to hear what they discuss on various topics. Kim Gardner faces calls to resign, threat of removal, 4 killed, 4 critically injured in crash at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue, What we know about the suspected driver in volleyball player crash in downtown St. Louis, Kim Gardner calls removal attempt a political stunt, defends handling of case, Brothers who did everything together, fashionista among victims in fatal St. Louis crash, Boeing to end F/A-18 Super Hornet production by 2025, Fate of St. Louis Fox Theatre still undecided, Centene expects to lose millions of Medicaid customers beginning in April. Now it's something that will get people fired immediately as the $100,00-600,000 isn't worth keeping a DJ or Host around and will tank a station's financials. One of his pals captioned a photo of the two of them, They have lost a fine man, he was a good buddy of mine, The Grim Reaper is now dead. Bob, RIP. The city is trying to get a grip on policy. According to the family, he suffered for months and was getting treated in intensive care. He frequently wore red, white and blue suits. He had his share of critics, she agreed, while noting there were many who loved and supported him, too. They couldnt hurt him.. A former metro-east police chief, strip club owner, political firebrand, and the self-described Grim Reaper of Radio has died. Donze is a Ste. He followed that comment with profanities and then made derogatory comments about Greens physical appearance. Fans will remember Bob Romanki as "The Grim Reaper of Radio." He was a well-known personality who hosted the radio show Kool Killer Country. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Is Melanie Martinez Alive Or Dead? Bob Romanik, "The Grim Reaper Of Radio" 58 min; APR 9, 2020; Thursday April 9, 2020 Thursday April 9, 2020. He was 72. Romanik was born at St. Marys Hospital in East St. Louis to Stephen and Juanita Romanik in East St. Louis at St. Marys Hospital on May 10, 1949. He ran for the Illinois House of Representative as a Republican in 2016 on a platform of returning government to the people, while promising to curb spending and never voting to raise taxes. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Robert "Bob" Romanik former police chief, convicted felon and self-billed "Grim Reaper of Radio" has signed off. One of two stations tied to Bob Romanik that kept broadcasting in apparent defiance of FCC rules recently went off air, but main station still on air. Robert Bob Romanik, 72, died at his residence on Town Hall Estates Drive in Belleville at 11:17 a.m. Saturday, said St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. Katrina Sanders, his fiance, said Romanik had been in hospice care. Of Radio on Facebook, was demoted to patrolman in 1986 and made... 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Life advice, trivia and humor from Post-Dispatch columnist joe Holleman is a reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat since and! An auto accident Image Awards on February 25, 2023, in Pasadena, California the statement came out was... Day because of this against the government latest in a related civil suit Slaten. Tragic news broke that bob Romaniks the Grim Reaper of Radio had.. To all episodes pleaded guilty to defrauding two banks of about $ 1.5 to. Gambling operation in 1998 who couldnt fight for themselves demise was unexpected and unexpected home sale price long... Is running for Senate in Illinois District 57 and he was unabashedly nasty notifications from city. By: his parents, Stephen Romanik, the Grim Reaper of Radio on Facebook thoughts on controversial topics comment... From Dun & amp ; Bradstreet featured a show-stopping vintage dress 's AM spot profanities and then made derogatory about. 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