Pierre Robert, the longtime WMMR host who died in October, will be memorialized with a bench at Rittenhouse Square this spring. <\/p>\n
Friends of Rittenhouse Square, the nonprofit that preserves the scenic park in Center City, said it will celebrate Robert’s 44-year career at the rock station by dedicating the bench where he sat to read a book three days before his death<\/a>. Robert was 70. <\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Center City expands Open Streets program to 20 car-free days this year<\/a><\/p>\n “Rittenhouse Square was Pierre Robert\u2019s favorite place in the city,” the nonprofit said<\/a>. “It was where he read, reflected, people-watched, and felt most at peace.” <\/p>\n Robert’s final Instagram post on Oct. 26 was a photo of him reading on a bench at the park. <\/p>\n “Sunday afternoon in Philly in my beloved Rittenhouse Square, with a great book, a cup of La Colombe, watching the world lazily drift by \u2026 pretty close to perfection!” Robert wrote. <\/p>\n Pierre’s radio career started in the former WMMR studio at 19th and Walnut streets, where the DJ sometimes sat on the third-floor windowsill during his midday show. The station has since relocated to Bala Cynwyd. <\/p>\n Robert’s death drew a wave of reflections from artists he had interviewed over the years, including Jon Bon Jovi<\/a> and the Offspring<\/a>. WMMR later held a memorial concert for Robert at the Fillmore Philadelphia in December. <\/p>\n Friends of Rittenhouse Square had already raised more than $9,000 as of Tuesday afternoon to support the memorial for Robert and other beautification projects at the park. <\/p>\n “Pierre\u2019s voice was part of the daily rhythm of life, a steady thread that connected music lovers across neighborhoods and generations,” the nonprofit said. <\/p>\n A portion of the fundraiser proceeds will be donated to Mural Arts Philadelphia for the creation of a mural in Robert’s honor at a location to be determined. The bench at Rittenhouse Square is expected to be dedicated in May. <\/p>\n