Robert ‘Bob’ Johnson of Bob Johnson Auto Group passes away at 84

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Robert "Bob" Johnson, founder of the iconic Bob Johnson Auto Group, has died. He was 84.

A public relations firm for the dealership confirmed to News10NBC that Johnson passed away last week in Florida and said the family did not want any more information released.

Brad McAreavy, President of the Rochester Automobile Dealers Association said Johnson has been out of the business for about 15 years.

Still, the dealerships’ jingles ring through Upstate New Yorkers’ heads.

Johnson was born and raised in Chicago and became one of Upstate New York’s most prominent businessmen, owning the largest minority-owned car dealership in the country: Bob Johnson Chevrolet.

Johnson was a philanthropist, serving on the Nazareth College Board of Trustees, as chairman of the Rochester Urban League and a member of the board of directors for the foundation of his alma mater, Empire State College. The college honored him with a Citizen Laureate Award in 2014.

Johnson and his late wife, Carol, established a scholarship fund with Empire State College in 2001 to assist minority students who are in financial need.

The Bob Johnson Auto Group recently purchased all nine of the Dorschel Automotive Group’s dealerships on West Henrietta Road, bringing it to a total of 17 locations in Rochester, Central New York, and Northern New York.