Robert "Bob" Kmetz's Obituary
Former KDKA Radio & TV newsman Bob Kmetz passed away suddenly on May 2, 2026, surrounded by family and friends.
Robert J. "Bob" Kmetz was born February 28, 1943, in East Chicago, Indiana. When he was five years old, his parents moved to Streator, Illinois, his father's hometown. Four years later, his family moved to Plainfield, Illinois, and then to Plattville and Joliet, Illinois.
While living in Plattville at the age of 12, Bob made money by cutting grass and baling hay. At age 14, he got his first full-time job at Corrigan's General Store in Plattville, working six days a week for three dollars a day. At that same age, Bob also wrote feature articles for the Plattville Panorama, the village's monthly newspaper.
A self-described "Type A" personality and headstrong, Bob moved out of his parents' home at age 16-just three months after buying his first car-and got an apartment in Joliet, Illinois. There, he finished his junior and senior years at Joliet Catholic High School, paying his own tuition.
During high school, Bob, along with Walt Bates, Don Confiliano, and Joe Dionne, ran record hops in the JCHS gym and earned thousands of dollars for the school.
Two years after graduating, Bob entered active duty in the United States Navy, serving two years aboard the guided missile heavy cruiser USS Canberra (CAG-2), homeported in San Diego, California. After six months on the deck force in the Fourth Division, he transferred into X Division, where he rebuilt the ship's closed-circuit radio station, KANG.
He established a program schedule and convinced the Defense Department to provide Armed Forces transcription services, bringing the latest music and civilian programming-such as The Tonight Show-to the ship. The music ranged from rock and roll to country to classical. Although an enlisted man, Bob was referred to by the ship's Executive Officer as the ship's "Morale Officer."
In 1965, Bob was released from active duty and returned to Joliet, Illinois, where he began his career as a newsman at WJRC Radio. The station had only been on the air for two years, and Bob was its second newsman. After two years, he moved to KIOA Radio in Des Moines, Iowa, where he worked as a reporter/anchor for five years.
In 1972, Bob joined KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh as a reporter/anchor, where he remained until his retirement in 2003. During his time at KDKA, he also worked part-time as a weekend reporter for KDKA-TV for eight years while maintaining his full-time role at the radio station.
Over his 31-year career at KDKA Radio and TV, Bob produced numerous freelance films and voiceovers for U.S. Steel, J&L Steel, PPG, and Koppers. His work included a full-length film for Union Switch & Signal titled The Search for Safety, which was translated into nine languages. He also created feature pieces for Evening Magazine in a series titled On the Road with Bob Kmetz.
In addition, Bob worked as a "stringer" reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Bob received multiple awards in radio and television for his reporting and anchoring, including being named "Pittsburgh's Best Newscaster."
After retiring, Bob pursued his passions for team roping and golf. He competed in local jackpots and rodeos, and participated in cattle drives at Two Creek Ranch in Douglas, Wyoming.
Bob is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Kmetz; his children, Robert Kmetz Jr., Leah (Allen) McKittrick, Shelley (Gary) Wain, and Sherri (Derrico) Quattrone; his grandchildren, Hannah Kmetz, Cailey McKittrick, Chelsey Wain, Chantz Wain, Cody Wain, Chasey (Jarrett) Long, Nico Quattrone, and Gavin Quattrone; and his siblings, Bonnie Fleck, Peggy, John Joseph, Michael (Cheri) Kmetz, and Cheryl Kmetz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Norma and Joseph, and his siblings, Mary VannAllen and Betty Flynn.
Family and friends are welcome for visitation on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, 301 Curry Hollow Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.
A Funeral Service will take place on Thursday, May 7th, 2026 at 10:00am in the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, followed by interment in Jefferson Memorial Park.
Online condolences may be shared at https://www.jeffersonmemorial.com.
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