Art Vuolo, Jr. (left) with Roger Hoppe II

The MAB is sad to report the passing of longtime Michigan broadcaster Roger Hoppe II.  Hoppe passed away at age 57 early this past Monday morning (7/6) from prostate cancer.  Hoppe had owned stations in Bear Lake and Beulah, Michigan as well as well as stations in Craig and Limon, Colorado.  He was also owner of Conundrum Communications, which owned radio towers in Michigan, Colorado and Ohio.

Radio's Best Friend, Michigan's own Art Vuolo, Jr, shared these thoughts on his friend, Roger Hoppe II with the MAB:

ROGER HOPPE II, a Michigander who had a passion for radio, drew his last breath at 4:20 a.m. July 6th and the radio world has lost yet another devoted supporter. The photo from 11-22-19 shows him as a much healthier "Radio Tower Dude" at his home in Rochester Hills, MI, with close friend Art Vuolo, which is where he passed away.  He owned radio stations in northwest Michigan and when they were sold, retained the towers, making them available to communications companies.  Hoppe was only 57 years old.

For those who had the pleasure of knowing "Radio Roger," as he was called in a 1982 feature story in the Detroit News, we feel the loss. That profile piece, written by Jim McFarlin, introduced many of us to one of radio's best advocates when he was just 13 years old!

Sympathies to his 89 year old mother, Opsie, his close cousin Nancy Arzola, April Kirby, and first cousin Keila Miller. Add to those lucky enough to have known this outstanding member of the broadcasting fraternity.  Roger died from prostate cancer that infiltrated his bones and had been in and out of hospitals since early February.

Here is a link to a  2 1/2 minute video from Vuolo's 50th birthday party in 1995 where Roger spoke, as an additional memory:  https://vimeo.com/1206342628/3afd47f227?fl=ip&fe=ec

After cremation, a Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.  Roger that!

Our thanks to Art for sharing his memories of Roger Hoppe II.