The heart behind the voice
When a life-threatening heart crisis nearly ended the life of legendary broadcaster Bill Hillgrove, heart specialists across AHN stepped in to save him and guided his recovery all the way back to the broadcast booth.
From calling the moment to feeling it
For decades, fans have listened to Bill’s unmistakable voice rise with the biggest moments in Pittsburgh sports.
One of his most memorable was in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLIII, when a pass from Ben Roethlisberger floated into the corner of the end zone, and millions waited to see if wide receiver Santonio Holmes made the catch.
From the opposite end of the field, Bill couldn’t even see Santonio — let alone whether both of his feet landed in the Arizona Cardinals’ red paint. So Bill relied on a mentor’s advice: Watch the referees.
“As soon as the official’s hands started to go up and came to his waist, I knew where his hands were headed,” Bill remembered as if it was yesterday. “I called touchdown.”
In that moment, Bill’s heart was racing with the kind of exhilaration sports fans live for.
Nearly 25 years later, that same breathless feeling returned. Only this time, it wasn’t coming from the thrill of the game. It was his heart warning him something was dangerously wrong.
A signal he almost missed
Bill has spent his career behind the microphone. A Pittsburgh native, he built a legendary broadcasting career, calling Steelers play-by-play football and Pitt football and basketball games for generations of listeners.
In 2024, he retired from the Steelers but stayed close to the game by continuing on with Pitt. His routine still hadn’t changed much — games, travel, the familiar rhythm of a season.
Then, gradually, something started to feel off. What Bill chalked up to a lingering chest cold began to slow him down.
“I was walking through airports and arenas, and I’d have to stop and rest after a certain distance because of the tightness I felt in my chest,” Bill said.
When basketball season ended, he visited his family doctor near his part-time home at Conneaut Lake. What followed caught Bill completely off guard. His doctor diagnosed him with atrial fibrillation, also called AFib — an irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other serious complications.
After being transferred to a health center in Meadville, more alarming news — severe blockages in two major arteries supplying blood to his heart. He was also in cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition where the heart suddenly cannot pump enough blood to the body.
“It was as serious as it could get,” Bill said.
A race against time
Bill needed emergency bypass surgery. But severe weather created another problem — winds were too dangerous for air medical transport. An ambulance had to drive Bill two hours to AHN Allegheny General Hospital.
“It is not an overstatement to say that he was literally at death’s door,” said Stephen Bailey, MD, Bill’s cardiovascular surgeon and chair of the AHN Cardiovascular Institute. “He had a calcified 99% blockage of the left main coronary artery.”
By the time Bill arrived at Allegheny General, his heart function had dropped dangerously low. His ejection fraction — a measurement that shows how well the heart pumps blood — was only 10% of normal, and he required multiple medications and machines to keep him alive.
Dr. Bailey explained that Bill’s risk of death was extremely high.
“We knew surgery was his only option, and we were confident that our team was equipped to provide a successful outcome,” Dr. Bailey said.
At about 4 a.m., Dr. Bailey and his team performed a successful coronary artery bypass surgery. He also inserted a temporary mechanical support device that helped move blood through Bill’s heart and other organs through the stress of the event.
Bill gradually regained his strength and was able to return home 10 days after surgery.
“With the help of an amazing team, he went from emergency bypass surgery in the middle of the night to having a strong, healthy heart again,” Dr. Bailey said.
Bill said he wouldn’t be here today without the fast action, personalized care, and lifesaving treatments he received from the AHN care team.
“Dr. Bailey and his team saved my life,” he said.
Care connected across AHN
Bill’s recovery didn’t end after surgery.
Closer to home, he completed cardiac rehabilitation at AHN Forbes Hospital, where specialists helped him safely rebuild stamina and endurance after major heart surgery.
After completely recovering from his emergency surgery, Bill had an elective treatment to fix his aortic valve. The cardiovascular team at AHN Forbes Hospital performed the procedure, allowing Bill to remain closer to the comforts of home.
For Dr. Bailey, Bill’s story shows the strength of coordinated care throughout the AHN system. “It’s about getting patients the right care, at the right place, at the right time,” Dr. Bailey said. “Bill continues to do well today and is thriving.”
Still bringing the game to life
At 85, Bill’s trusted voice remains part of the Pitt gameday soundtrack. During the season, he continues to prepare for games each week — studying rosters and stats — and steps into the booth with the same passion he’s had since he started.
“The greatest thing that ever happened to me was working for the teams I grew up loving,” he said. “And I’m still doing what I love.”
Throughout his entire heart care journey, Bill missed just one football game.
“I was born with a good constitution and a good attitude,” he said. “That’s a good combination.”
Until the season kicks off, he’s enjoying life with family and friends, splitting time between Pittsburgh and Conneaut Lake with his wife of 61 years, Rosette.
“It all seems even a little more special now after this second chance,” he said.
Why choose the AHN Cardiovascular Institute
AHN cardiovascular specialists provide expert care for conditions such as heart attack and heart failure, as well as preventive medicine. The AHN Cardiovascular Institute is renowned for its expertise, innovations, and capabilities.
From common heart conditions to rare diseases, AHN heart experts use evidence-based medicine and a team-based approach to deliver high-quality cardiovascular care. The institute has highly focused programs, including electrophysiology, cardiovascular imaging, heart failure and transplant treatment, and general cardiology.
Contact us
To make an appointment, visit our scheduling page or call (412) DOCTORS 412-362-8677.