AKRON, Ohio — Bob Friend, best known for an evening program on Akron’s WAKR (1590-AM) in which he analyzed the dreams of callers, died Saturday night at the age of 87, according to News 5 media partner the Akron Beacon Journal.
He was known as the man who introduced the Beatles at their first Northeast Ohio appearance and later hosted “The Dream Machine.”
“It’s really tough,” said Lee, his wife of 42 years, on Tuesday to The Akron Beacon Journal. “I woke up yesterday and said, ‘OK, Day Two without my husband.’ It’s tough. It’s tough.
Friend was an Air Force veteran who worked for a Cleveland radio station when the Beatles came into town at Public Hall on Sept. 15, 1964.
After suffering from a fall in January, Friend move to a nursing home, where he was receiving hospice care.
“I was sitting right by him on the bed, and my daughter was with me, too,” said Lee. “I was holding hands with him and he had that glazed look; you know he’s not looking at you, but looking at God.”
In addition to his wife, he is survived by seven children, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. His family told Ohio.com. that he will be buried at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.
Read the full article from the Akron Beacon Journal here.
