It is with deep sorrow that the Toledo Symphony and the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts mourn the passing of Robert “Bob” Bell, beloved colleague, visionary leader, master timpanist, and the heart and soul of our institution for nearly 70 years.
“Bob was the heart and soul of the Toledo Symphony for most of its existence and for most of his life,” shares TAPA Board Chair Marna Ramnath. “It is safe to say that his dedication to the music, the musicians, and the community never wavered. The gift of his life plays on in the orchestra that he loved.”
Bob’s extraordinary journey with the Symphony began in 1956, when, as a high school senior, he first performed with the orchestra at the invitation of then-conductor Joseph Hawthorne. From that moment forward, Bob dedicated his life to the power of music and its place in this community. As Principal Timpanist, Librarian, Personnel Manager, and later as Managing Director, President & CEO, and finally President Emeritus, Bob helped transform the Toledo Symphony into one of the nation’s premier regional orchestras.
“Bob was a man who was made for music,” said Kathy Carroll, former President of the Toledo Symphony. “It animated him. He spent his entire life listening, learning, practicing, and helping others grow in it, too. Music wasn’t just his profession. It was really his purpose.”
He was, in every sense, a builder. Under his leadership, the Symphony’s budget and artistic stature grew exponentially into a fine, professional orchestra. Bob fostered a spirit of collaboration that made Toledo a national model for labor relations in the performing arts. And he championed the idea that great music should belong to everyone—expanding access through neighborhood concerts, school partnerships, and inclusive programming long before such efforts were commonplace. In recognition of these achievements, Bob received the Governor’s Award for the Arts in 1994.
“Bob Bell represented everything an orchestra manager should be,” offers Thomas Morris, former chief executive of the Cleveland Orchestra and Boston Symphony. “He brought a deep commitment to his community, long successful service to an organization he believed in, selfless performance of his responsibilities, and most of all, a deep and abiding love of music. The Toledo Symphony would simply not be what it is without Bob. I was lucky for his long-time friendship.”
“I met Bob when I was ten years old,” remembers Keith McWatters, former Orchestra Manager of the Toledo Symphony. “My dad wanted me to take lessons from the best drum teacher in the area, and that was Bob. From the very beginning, he believed in me, first as a student and later as a colleague. He used to say, ‘You have no idea what you already know,’ and that stuck with me. His constant support shaped who I became. Because he was always there for me, I learned to be there for others. He was an incredible example.”
In 2006, Bob celebrated his 50th year with the Toledo Symphony, surrounded by the very musicians and community he so deeply loved. In recent years, we were proud to recognize his legacy through the Robert Bell Endowment and the naming of the Robert Bell Studio at the new Toledo Center for Live Arts. These tributes will continue to serve generations of artists, students, and audiences—just as Bob envisioned.
Beyond his many contributions to the arts, Bob maintained a deep connection to the area’s firefighters. “Bob Bell’s bond with the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department began in childhood and lasted a lifetime,” observes former chief Luis Santiago. He played a key role in a major departmental study in the 1980s and remained a quiet, unwavering supporter ever since. Bob was more than an advocate; he was a dear friend to many of us. I know of no greater ambassador for the Department.”
To remember Bob is to hear the rumble of timpani before a grand finale; the soft-spoken encouragement behind a curtain; the warm light of someone who believed, above all, in people. His life was a masterwork of dedication, humility, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of the arts.
We extend our deepest condolences to Bob’s family, his many friends, and the generations of musicians who were lifted by his wisdom and grace.
Rest in peace, dear friend. Thank you for everything.
The Musicians, Staff, and Board of the Toledo Symphony
