Robert Jack “Bob” Carr

Robert Jack “Bob” Carr closed the curtain on a wonderfully amazing and blessed life, as the gifted and beloved New Orleans broadcaster signed off for the final time on December 19, 2025. He was a remarkable 98 years old.

Bob was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on November 20, 1927, shortly after his parents, Harriette Williams and Leo F. 'Speed' Carr, breakfasted on Postum and Kellogg's corn flakes. He spent his formative years in Painesville, Ohio. Disinterested in sports, he excelled in elocution, drama and declamation, graduating from high school as a member of the National Honor Society. At 18, near the end of World War II, he joined the U.S. Army and served with 88th Division occupation forces in Gorizia, Italy.

Following his military service, he graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology (Carnegie-Mellon University) with a BFA in drama. There, he met and married his love and life partner of 71 glorious years, Janet Lee “Jan” Fitzsimmons. After graduating, they settled in New York City to pursue their careers. Bob joined the Conover Modeling Agency and appeared in many national ads, including for Coca-Cola, Pepsodent and Zippo lighters.

After several years, an opportunity arose to open a TV station, WTRF, in Wheeling, W. Virginia (near Jan's hometown) and host a weekday TV show of their own, Calling All Carrs. Their first son, Timothy, arrived two years later. The largest city in the state, Huntington, enticed them to join WSAZ-TV with their own show and a much larger audience. Tammy, their first daughter, soon arrived.

After six years, Bob wanted to try his hand at business and joined the famous Blenko Glass Company as an executive while Jan continued in television with another partner.

By 1960, Bob and Jan yearned to work together again. The opportunity came in New Orleans when WWL offered them a radio show. Soon, WDSU saw their TV potential and hired them for the Second Cup morning show, where they broadcast from the roof of the Royal Orleans Hotel. Their second son, Tom, was born here, along with their second daughter, Tiffany. In the mid-1960s, Bob and Jan became local TV icons when they joined the cast of the station’s legendary Midday show.

Second Cup and Midday were the best-known in a long list of TV and radio shows they produced and hosted for WDSU, WBYU and WGSO over the the years, including The Real Estate Home Show, The Bob & Jan Radio Show and The Woolco Show, along with countless personal appearances for the station, local charities and non-profit groups. They opened their thousands of broadcasts with the familiar and cheerful greeting, “This is Bob!” “And this is Jan!”

In addition to their on-air conversations about family life and parenting as well as celebrity interviews, Bob also won awards for his TV fashion coverage, including from the Men's Fashion Association of America.

Following the sale of WDSU in 1972, Bob joined International House as Deputy Managing Director, ultimately becoming the Managing Director. He and Jan traveled the world, including in 1979 when he led one of the first trade missions to the newly-opened China. Later, when International House merged with the Trade Mart to become the World Trade Center of New Orleans, Bob was elected Associate Managing Director.

Following retirement, he and Jan revived their radio career, co-edited Prime Magazine and even operated a B&B for fun. Bob's interest in architecture led him to restore several historic homes in the French Quarter and Garden District. He also wrote two books, Raising Our Children on Bourbon: A French Quarter Love Affair and The Packard Limousine: A Boy’s Journey During the Great Depression.

Bob received many honors and awards through the years, but was most proud of the ones he received with Jan, including the New Orleans Broadcasting Hall of Fame (1994), the Strength in Age Honor from LSU Medical Center (2000) and the Press Club of New Orleans Lifetime Achievement Award (2003).

He was active at Christ Church Cathedral for some 50 years, serving as a Sunday school teacher, Eucharistic minister, chief acolyte and rector of several Cursillo weekends.

Bob and Jan were forever grateful to have been accepted so lovingly into the fabric of New Orleans. He always referred to it as their spiritual home. In 2018, they retired to Christwood Retirement Community, “a blessed place to live,” as they lovingly called it, where they were asked to revive their broadcasting careers, producing and hosting "Home at Christwood with Bob and Jan.” Bob continued the show after Jan’s death in 2022.

He leaves behind four children: Timothy Carr (Christine) of St. Louis, Missouri; Tammy Richardson (Thomas) of Rome, Georgia; Tom Carr of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tiffany Rieveschl (David) of New Orleans. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: William Richardson (Carissa), Taylor Richardson (Taylor), Shane Carr, Carlisle Rieveschl, Haley Rieveschl, Margot Carr and Camilla Carr; and two great-grandchildren: Thomas and Helen Richardson.

A celebration of his amazing life will be held Saturday, January 24 at 3 p.m. at Christwood, 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, LA 70433. His remains will reside in the Christ Church Cathedral Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Christwood Foundation, 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, LA 70433 or WYES-TV, P.O. Box 24026, New Orleans, LA 70184.