Trustees Honor Roll

Turcola, Bob

Accordionist and bandleader, Bob Turcola, better know as “Turk,” has been on the polka scene in the Youngstown areafor almost six decades.  He started playing piano accordion at age five, and studied with Hank Racich. Bob joined the Al Hreno Band in 1960.  Since 1964, Bob has led the Bob Turcola orchestra.  Bob has six Cleveland style albums to his credit and one Slovak album.  Bob feels his greatest achievement as a musician is the sponsorship of an annual dance to benefit Tod’s Children’s Hospital in Youngstown.  Over the past 30 years, he has donated over $100,000 to the Hospital. Bob enjoys polka jam sessions during the summer at his trailer at the SNPJ Campsite in Enon Valley, Pennsylvania.