Former longtime UCLA broadcaster Chris Roberts passed away peacefully in his Glendora home on the morning of May 12, 2023. Roberts, who was 74 years old, died from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Many around the UCLA community took to social media today to pay tribute to a broadcasting legend.
Tracy Murray:
This is a tough one… First of all I would like to say Thank You!!! Without you, I’m not a radio broadcaster at UCLA. You were my mentor, you guided me, told me to annunciate, attack the microphone… These are things I still hear in my mind when I’m broadcasting… I miss our plane rides and late night drives from the Palouse to Spokane after a game… Late night dinners after a game on the road or a pregame dinner in Westwood for home games… Your golden voice inducting @cameron.murray.940 and I in the GHS Basketball Hall of Fame… Sitting in the back yard at Cathrine Park watching you throw tennis balls to your dogs that you loved so dearly… Chris, you will be missed by many!!! You’re a legend, a broadcast hall of famer, my mentor, my golf partner, and my friend and I will miss you tremendously. When you retired, you made sure I was good with suggesting Josh Lewin. Thank you for that. You knew how nervous I was about having a new broadcast partner. You knew the perfect one… You were a great husband to Ann, Father to Dave and Nichole, grandfather to the grand kids. I’m sending Love and Prayers to the LaPeer Family during this tough time. Rest Easy My Friend. Until we meet again. RIP Bob LaPeer aka the Legend Chris Roberts🙏🏽🕊️🎤
Tim Cates:
Chris was a great guy who treated me with so much respect and welcomed me into the UCLA broadcast many years ago. I will always be grateful for his friendship. #RIPVoiceoftheBruins for his family during this time.
He served as the voice of UCLA football for 23 seasons and called 16 bowl games, including the Bruins’ Rose Bowl appearances.
During his 23-year tenure as UCLA’s play-by-play broadcaster, Roberts was joined in the broadcast booth or along the scorer’s table by several former UCLA athletes who served as radio analysts. Calling UCLA’s football games, Roberts worked alongside former quarterbacks David Norrie, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook. With the men’s basketball team, Roberts’ radio analysts over the years had included Marques Johnson, Mike Warren, Bob Myers, Don MacLean and Tracy Murray.
Roberts is survived by his wife Ann LaPeer, son David LaPeer and daughter-in-law Yvette LaPeer, daughter Nichole Hijon-LaPeer, son-in-law Octavio Hijon and grandchildren Andrés, Santiago and Carmen.
Photo: UCLA Bruins