Iconic chef served celebrities, but heart was with ‘regular folk’
Robert “Dr. Bob” McCall, one of Pittsburgh’s well-known soul food chefs, took his seat at the Lord’s table, Aug. 1. He was 78.
The popular Black chef ingrained himself into the area’s culture by offering his “down home” cooking to the famous as well as the not-so-famous. He served well-known Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and top music celebrities, including Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente, L.C. Greenwood, John Stallworth, Sister Sledge, Stevie Wonder and Coretta Scott King. However, his heart was always with just “regular folk.”
Born April 10, 1939 in Birmingham, Alabama and after a brief stint as a young adult in Chicago, Dr. Bob ended up working as a chef in one of Pittsburgh’s major hotels, the Hilton. Perhaps it was his inner drive and basic goodness that brought him success in his field.
At the request of his friends, he began catering small parties that would develop into a successful catering business by the early 1970s. Soon after, he opened Bob McCall’s Restaurant on Centre Avenue. McCall’s generous heart led him to cater buffet dinners that benefited area seniors. It has been estimated that he served thousands of seniors free of charge.
According to McCall’s obituary from House of Law in Penn Hills, he was co-founder and president of the Caters’ Inc. – a group of Black caterers devoted to raising money for charitable causes.
Around 1982, McCall came out with his cookbook, “Dr. Bob’s Down Home Cooking.” In his cookbook’s dedication, he had special thanks for, among others, the St. Paul Social Association, Daisy Reed, and long-time public relations guru and journalist Regis Bobonis Sr.
Bobonis was well-known in many circles but particularly strong in local media. He must have had a serious hand in helping him get the book published.
McCall’s book promoted, among other things, the popular fried lobster tail and what many Pittsburghers might remember as “The Chitterling Pizza.”
Dr. Bob always was a “community” person. He loved the community and the community loved him.
Bob always displayed his good manners. He was cordial, loving, and enthusiastic. He was a household name, which led him to explain humorously to those around him that he was “ghetto famous.” In short, he was only famous among Pittsburgh’s African American community. But Bob, indeed, was an icon in Pittsburgh.
McCall’s funeral was held Aug. 12 at House of Law in Penn Hills. He is survived by: daughter Andrida Hosey (Boyzell), son Robert McCall Jr. (Benita); granddaughters Chandell Lee, Kiashi Telfort (Benjamin) and Shanena McCall; grandson Jacquay Hosey; great grandkids Jauntae, Jaceir and Jalayah Hosey, DaShawn Carter, Nevaeha and Aniya Harles; siblings Juanita Pitts, Ella Jenkins, Diane Spears and John McCall Jr.
(Phil Taylor is a print journalist and former New Pittsburgh Courier editor who lives in Western Pennsylvania. Read Taylor’s commentary on his personal interactions with McCall below….
“I first encountered Dr. Bob and his crew at my brother, Tim’s and his wife, Vivian’s wedding in 1974. The wedding was held at St. Benedict the Moor in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood. I had no idea that my father, Augustus Sr. or “Gus,” as he was better known, had a shared Downtown history with Bob McCall. My dad worked in food service most of his life and later when he retired from the railroad, he subbed as a waiter at most of the city’s major hotels. That is where their paths crossed…”
“By the time of my upcoming nuptials in 1982, my dad took me down to Bob’s bright restaurant located on Centre Avenue right above South Craig Street. We were lucky to have Bob cater our wedding as well. We were honored to have his wife, “Gerri,” at the event…”
“It was about that time, that McCall came out with his cookbook “Dr. Bob’s Down Home Cooking…”
“In his cookbook’s dedication, he had special thanks for the St. Paul Social Association, Daisy Reed, among others and long-time public relations guru and journalist Regis Bobonis Sr. Bobonis, was well known in many circles but particularly strong in local media. He must have had a serious hand in helping him get the book published. Decades later Bobonis would spearhead the establishment of the monument to the Tuskegee Airmen in Sewickley…”
“Back in ’82, I was a staff writer for the New Pittsburgh Courier. I wanted to help Bob in promoting his book. Little did I know that our friendship would last decades after that and I would be become endeared to the man. His book promoted among other things the popular fried lobster tail and what many Pittsburghers might remember as The Chiterling Pizza!”
“I was thrilled when Bob told me that after we sent out new releases about his cookbook, he received several media responses including one from the national Essence Magazine. Way to go, Bob!”
“Bob always was a ‘community’ person. He loved the community and the community loved him…”
“Many years later, I would run into him often in the Eastern suburbs giving fellow seniors a ride to their destinations. He would always introduce me politely to whomever was in the vehicle with him. Bob always displayed his good manners. He would then go on to tell me of some opportunities that could turn into a potential money maker. Some depended on getting buildings with the use of full commercial kitchens. It was clear he had no plans of slowing down even in his 70s…”
“Oftentimes I would encounter him at various lottery retailers. Some people may not understand it, but lottery players have their own subculture. When we met at such places, he always had a sense of humor and if a “cool” automobile would pass our way, Bob always took notice…”
“Once I ran into him at one of our favorite lottery haunts, a beer distributor on Frankstown Road in Penn Hills. The distributor shares a location with a family of sisters that run a take-out restaurant which prepares soul food that even Bob might approve. Ironically, the local soul food king may have given way now to the royal sisters of it. To the amusement of those inside waiting to play their numbers a woman in line recognized him and said, ‘Hey, you’re Bob McCall…’
“Bob went on to explain humorously that he was ‘ghetto famous.’ In short, he was only famous among Pittsburgh’s African American community. We all laughed, but Bob and I knew his fame had long surpassed his joke. A few months ago, he left me a voice-mail at work. He ended his call nonchalantly with: ‘Bob McCall … that’s all… Bob McCall.’ It almost sounded lyrical. Often, I find myself repeating his words with a smile…”
“I would like to believe that both Bob and Gus are both enjoying what I learned was one of their favorite pastimes — a lively game of checkers. Take care guys.”
(The words of Phil Taylor)
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