Bob Brechbill Tribute Page

The Central PA Music scene mourns the sudden loss of Big Bob. We wanted to set up an area for those to pay tribute to Bob. Email your comments to jimo@hbgonline.com for posting to this page.

Robert Dale Brechbill
Robert Dale Brechbill, 41, of Harrisburg, died Friday, December 22, 2006 in the M. S. Hershey Medical Center.
He was born Friday, December 17, 1965, in Lebanon, PA, and is survived by his wife, Mandy M. (Maxwell) Brechbill; his parents, Dr. Joseph A. and Lois (Hilsher) Brechbill of Hershey; a sister, Dr. Louann B. Zinsmeister and her husband, Robert of Harrisburg; a nephew, Robert J. Zinsmeister; a niece, Kristin C. Zinsmeister; and many cousins and friends.

Bob was a 1984 graduate of Hershey High School and was a principal in the Dynmax Communications Company of Harrisburg, a company he founded with his wife, Mandy. He was also a founding member of the swing band, "Big Tubba Mista", popular on the East Coast, in which he was the percussionist. The band made 5 CD's that were distributed internationally.

Bob was very active and participated as a member of a semi-pro hockey team in an adult league in Hershey. He was participating in a hockey game when he became ill and passed away after being taken to the Hershey Medical Center. He was a life long member of the First United Methodist Church in Hershey.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at 11 a.m., in the First United Methodist Church, Hershey. Viewing will be Wednesday at the church from 9:30 a.m., until service time. Interment will be in the Grantham Memorial Park in Grantham.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to his church at 64 W. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033. Hoover Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., Hershey, is handling the arrangements.

Added 12/23 from Negative Space
We lost a friend today. Early this morning we found out that Bob Brechbill passed away unexpectedly last night. For those of you who don't know, Big Bob was our fulltime sound guys for a few years, and more recently has been helping us part time. For the years he worked with us, Bob was the sixth man in the band. He went everywhere we went, and worked just as hard, if not harder than we did. But he was so much more than that . . . like i said at the beginnning, he was a friend. He touched each one of our lives just by being in them. He always brought a positive vibe anytime he was around. He could take the worst situation, and find a way to laugh about it. As we remembered him today - that is what kept coming to mind, all the laughs we shared with him. Beyond working with us - Bob was someone that everyone in the regional music scene knew. He was the guy everyone knew they could count on when they were in a bind. Many times when a band found themsleves in a last minute situation, you would here someone suggest 'call Big Bob'. And when you did - he took care of you. He was like the big brother you knew you could always count on to make sure eveything came together right. Our loss today was a difficult one, but pales in comparison to that of his wife, Mandy. Our hearts go out to her, and please keep her in your thoughts as she goes through this incredibly difficult time.

To lose a friend is one of the most heartbreaking things to experience. To lost them unexpectedly makes it sting all that much more. Big Bob . . . you will be missed by all those who knew you. We loved you big guy.

Added 12/23 from Alex
I'm kind of new to the H-Burg scene but I can honestly say that "Big Bob" was one of the greats...It was "music to your ears", literally when Bob was on the boards...I could rest easy knowing Bob was doing sound that nite...No complaints, very detailed,professional and all around nice guy.

I remember being backstage with Bob at the Bon Jovi show when Condition K opened, and laughing at how cool it was to be on the side of the stage watching one of our favorite bands open for freakin BON JOVI...!!!! He was hailed the "ALL STAR" of the show. He organized the show as if he were doing these types of shows on a daily basis. Bob was always positive and a great buddy...Rest In Peace my friend...

We'll miss you Brechbill

Added 12/23 Josh from JD Lighting
It feels sureal to me that he is gone. I remember speaking with him Tuesday night about a show and it
blows my mind how quickly life can change. Bob has helped me grow my lighting company and helped me with
lighting gigs. When I needed something I knew I could always call him with no problem. I even played
hockey with him several times, on my hockey team and on his at the Hersheypark Arena. He was a great
friend and I will truly miss him. My heart goes out to Mandy and my prayers are with her thru this very
difficult time. Love ya Bob, god speed!!!!

Added 12/23 Manian of Condition K
I am in a state of complete shock as well; I just talked to him this past Saturday at Gullifty’s. He has always been a great friend to the band, someone we could always count on. He always made us laugh and was just a super nice guy. He will never be forgotten. My heart and prayers go out to Bob’s wife and his family during this difficult time. Here is something I read once that put into perspective how precious life is:

"Because we do not know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. And yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, an afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being that you cannot conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four, or five times more? Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless..." - Brandon Lee

Added 12/23 from Bridges and a Bottle
Yesterday Bridges and a Bottle learned we had lost a member of our family. On Thursday December 21 our good friend Bob Brechbill passed away. For the past several years Bob has worked with us as our front of house sound engineer, traveling to shows, practices, recording studios everything with the band and at the same time he was the drummer for the band Big Tubba Mista. There wasn't a better person for the job then Bob, but more
important was his personality. Bob had a way about him when he was in a room, always laughing cracking jokes and telling stories from his years on the road. Bobs touch on the music scene in this area and our daily lives
can't be put into words. He was truly a great friend to Bridges and he leaves a big hole in all of our hearts with his passing. Our condolences to his family, wife Mandy, friends, band mates and fans. Thank you Bob for everything you have given us, it was truly our pleasure to have known you in this life.

Added 12/23 from BigJim of HBGOnline
What can you say about a guy that has touched so many within our community? Bob was the go to guy when you needed something. When bands, venues and even other sound companies needed something in a pinch, Bob was the guy to call. In fact my last time spent with Bob, he was running sound at Gullifty’s because they needed someone last minute. Perhaps we can all return the favor for Bob’s family in their time of need, with our prayers and thoughts.

A sudden loss is never easy, but perhaps we can all use this as a learning experience. Live your life to the fullest everyday, because you never know when it’s your time to leave. Billy Joel was right “Only the good die young”. Big Bob was a good guy and will be deeply missed.

Added 12/24 Justin Neighbour (Former drummer of Negative Space)
I learned of Triple B’s (Big Bob Brechbill) passing early Friday morning from my old band mates in Negative Space. I was the drummer in that band for about two years. At that time Bob was our full time sound engineer. He traveled with us in our crappy van everywhere we went and was basically the 6th member of our family. Over the two years that I was in Neg. Space, me, Bob, and his wife Mandy all became really good friends. Bob was without question one of the funniest guys I have ever met. He had such a great sense of humor and a certain air about him that would just kind of light up a room and immediately make people happy. Let’s not forget that he was an amazing musician, sound engineer, and just an all around great guy. No matter what type of mood I was in, he always would lift my spirits. When I look back at my two years in Neg. Space all of my best memories have something to do with the Big Guy. From him drawing the most outlandish things on my drum heads, to doing little dances backstage, to putting duck tape mustaches on his face while we were performing. He was just the best. Bob and I remained close friends after I parted from Neg. Space. We always talked on the phone about, drums, music, what our favorite beer of the month was, what color he was going to dye his hair, how many times he went to Dunkin Donuts that day, and so many other things that always put a smile on my face. I always knew if I was in a down mood, I could just call Brother Brechbill and the problem was solved. I have been looking through my picture catalogue from Neg. Space and I have so many awesome pics of Bob just being Bob. They are priceless. Well, I am sure Triple B is up in Heaven right now, playing drums or mixing sound for some crazy angel band, drinking a nice cold Canadian beer of some sort, and just making people happy. Bob, thanks for so many amazing memories. Thanks for always making me laugh and thanks for being my friend. I miss you already brother.

Added 12/24 from Fred Pellegrini of Holis
For many of us times have changed. It was easier walking on stage when you knew Bob was at the desk. He conveyed confidence, humor, and energy. He was truly a skilled musician, a great person, and a good friend, not to mention his talents mixing sound.

When we were kids playing football he used to ram headfirst at my gut as a defensive lineman trying to get to the quarterback. Bob always liked to nail people in the gut – with humor, a subwoofer, a drum set, or a hockey stick.

He’s gone and done it again …

Perhaps the measure of a man is his touch on others lives. Bob touched hundreds, maybe thousands. The loss is ours, even more so for Mandy and Bob’s family. We will miss you Bob. Thanks for the moments and memories.

Added 12/24 from RANDAL RAY ROBERTSON of Triple R Guitar
Bob will be loved and missed by all of us here at Triple R Guitar. I have known bob for over 20 years and we did all kinds of stupid stuff together, including the haunted hay rides at Indian Echo Caverns. We were actually part of the cast and Bob and I would party while everybody else got on their costumes and makeup. We would then just throw on a mask and look at each other and say “done”. We said that to each other every time we saw each other for the rest of our lives. We will miss his humor and his smile forever. Love ya Bob!

Added 12/25 from Michael Anthony Smith
Bob was a friend of mine. I'm going to miss him. He was a kind and generous person, who I enjoyed being around. He helped me realize my dream of recording my own music. Without him, it would have never happened. I've never been able to express to him just how much that meant to me, nor can I do it now. When I think of him, I'll think of many pasta dinners, going to the Gettysburg cemetaries on Halloween, and trying unsuccesfully to shoot a basket in his driveway. He was really nice to me, even when I was being an irritating schmuck, he was nice to me. I'm glad I knew him.

Added 12/27 from Smokin' Gunnz
Bob, Terry, Chris and Mike from Smokin' Gunnz would like to take a moment to say goodbye to Bob. We didn't get many opportunities to work with him as a band but individually we all knew him. Some of us better than others. Our drummer, Bob Morris, spent some time with him in school in Hershey and our bassist, Terry Sherry, spent time working with Bob in a previous band some years back. As for myself, Chris, I probably knew him the least but was immedietly touched by his kindness, professionalism but most of all the fact that each time we saw each other, he always greeted me with a hand shake. It was something I always respected about him. He had a smile a mile wide and we rarely saw him without it.

We dedicated last Saturday night's performance to Bob and made a toast to his memory. I'm sure it was only one of many last weekend and only one of many more to come from his legions of friends and family alike. We will all miss him.

A Brief Candle, Both Ends Burning
An Endless Mile, A Bus Wheel Turning
A Friend To Share A Lonesome Time,
A Handshake And A Sip Of Wine
Say It Loud And Let It Ring,
That We're All Part Of Everything
The Future, Present And The Past,
Fly On Proud Bird, You're Free At Last

C.Daniels, Oct. 1977

Added 12/29 from Jack O'Hara
Bob Call" was the King of The Core. Bob built The Core for people who wouldn't or couldn't fit into the normal world. It was a place where we could hang out, be ourselves, and go a little crazy.He provided a stage for local bands who couldn't play other places, and Bob was always right up front cheering. The biggest, craziest, most fun shows my band Eight Ball ever played were at The Core. Bob also arranged for some of the best bands in the world to play at The Core. For just a few bucks, you could have the best time of your life. Even if nothing was going on that night, it was fun just to spend time there with Bob. He was always friendly, energetic, and excited to see you. You couldn't help feeling like a million bucks when you were around him. I'll always remember his enthusiam and commitment to what was important to him. I'll always be thankful for his support to Eight Ball and all the good times he helped create.

Added 12/29 from Ronnie Rhoads of Mustang
Bob's passing has deeply saddened us. He was a great guy and an excellent sound man. We worked with Bob quite a few times and ALWAYS enjoyed it! Bob personally helped us by recording us live and taking the time to mix it for us. He did this at no charge to the band and his generosity will always be appreciated. Mandy, We are truly sorry for your loss. If there is anything we can do just let us know.

Added 01/02 from Matt Mozzachio
Horrible news came to me hours into the new year. Stunned and shocked, I struggled to make sense of it, have only worked with him weeks ago. Only knowing him as Bob of Dyna Max, we worked the Carlisle Theater together. As someone who only only occassionally works production, Bob amazed me at his utter lack of music industry attitude. After the last show, I was attempting to leave after wrapping up my lighting chores, and Bob just gave me this puppy dog look as I headed for the door. At this point I remembered his heart issues and wobbly walk and offered to push the gear out the door and up the ramp. I still had 1+ hour to drive home, but I could not leave him hanging so I helped. Liking him so much, we even hung around a while to chat about business after the work was done. I was looking forward to getting to know him better an seeing his business grow.

To all his friends, family, and business associates, I am deeply saddened by your loss. May we all remember and honor his life.

Added 01/02 from Space {drummer for Lead Foot, Scapegoat}
I'll never forget the last time I ran into Bob @ Gulliftys night club back in October filling me in on BTM and sharing some laughs. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would see you my friend. I haven't really seen you a whole lot the past several years due to me living on the left coast, but the old times we had when you were in Last Call and I was in Scapegoat was a very wild and crazy ride and I'll never forget them. Those were definitely some of the best shows and times of my life. This past new years eve was the very first time that I have played a new years eve show in my 26 years of playing live, but the whole night was dedicated to you buddy. It was an honor and privilege knowing you...I can see you in heaven now sharing licks with Bonzo, along side Jimi Hendrix, Randy Rhoads, ect....Give'em Hell in Heaven buddy!!

Added 01/04 from David Crowther
Where are we going lads?
To the Top!
What Top?
The Very Top!
Let's Rock and Roll!

Bobby and I were in a band together back in high school, a long, long time ago. There was a rip-off tv-movie at the time that dramatized the early days of the Beatles, which we both thought was pretty funny, and we took the above mantra from it and used it every chance we got. I cannot think of Bob without thinking of that.

I lost touch with Bobby, and I did not know about BTM until last year. But it does not surprise me that Bobby was loved by so many people. He was big in all the best ways. He was like that right from the start. To a lot of people who have written their tributes, and to a lot more who have kept theirs private, Bobby made it to the top, all right. The very top.

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