Who Was Bob Wiesenberger?

The former Rocky River City Council president from 1966-1975, Bob Wiesenberger was an active volunteer in numerous community organizations. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 83. After his passing, RTA’s Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) created the Community Volunteer Award in his honor.

Wiesenberger suffered from retinitis pigmentosa and became blind in 1950. He relied greatly on public transportation. The former construction coordinator for the W.S. Tyler Co, Wiesenberger retired in 1974 and then earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban studies from CSU.

He attended nearly every RTA Board meeting since the agency was created in 1975 and focused his efforts on improving public transit services for the disabled. An active member of the Speakers Bureau of the Cleveland Sight Center, he received its “Eye-Deal Award” in 2001.

RTA’s Board of Trustees honored him upon his passing with a resolution of condolence stating, 

“F. Robert Wiesenberger constantly used public transportation, in spite of his visual impairment, and set an example for all us with his dynamic personality, memory for detail and independent spirit...He was an outstanding citizen and tireless volunteer.”