2026 Man of the Year
Bob Pompeani
The Voice of Pittsburgh Sports
Four Decades Behind the Desk
A sports anchor for KDKA News at 6 and KDKA News at 11, Bob Pompeani began his career at KDKA in 1982. Growing up in an area deep in sports traditions, Bob has covered the region’s biggest high school rivalries and met the players and coaches who’ve gone on to make sports history.
Through KDKA-TV’s “Extra Effort” award, Bob has visited more than 1,200 local schools, honoring students who excel in athletics, academics, and community service — and producing a feature story on every one of them.
A graduate of Hopewell High School, Bob earned his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism, with a minor in Political Science, from Point Park University.
An Abruzzo Story
Bob’s paternal family immigrated from Abruzzo, Italy. His grandparents, Domenick and Elvira Pompeani, came from Ripa Fagnano Alto, a small village in the Province of L’Aquila, and moved to the United States in the 1920s. They settled in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, where his grandfather worked in the local steel mills and where Bob’s father, Pat Pompeani, was born.
On his maternal side, Bob’s mother, Virginia, belonged to the Jula family, who also had deep roots in the Western Pennsylvania community.
Honors & Recognition
Community
Between work and family, Bob works closely with the community. He serves on the boards of the American Heart Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Partners for Quality Inc., and the Give Kids the World Foundation. He has been on the Executive Committee of the Mario Lemieux Foundation since 1995 and has served as Master of Ceremonies for the Penguins’ annual “Penguins at Your Service” black-tie dinner for 18 years.
Bob and his wife, Lisa, reside in Robinson Township with their two daughters, Chelsea and Celina. In his free time, Bob enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family.