WESTPORT — Bob LeRose, a man renowned for his love of barbecued food and smokin’ hot blues music, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 56.

The owner of the former Bobby Q’s restaurant downtown and founder of the Blues, Views & BBQ Festival, died Sunday in Stamford.

LeRose opened Bobby Q’s on Main Street with his wife, Kelley, in 2004, “to chase Bob’s passion for community and authentic Kansas City BBQ,” according to his obituary notice.

Four years later, he helped establish the Blues, Views & BBQ Festival, which for more than a decade enlivened Westport’s late-summers with several days worth of music  and barbecued foods.

After closing the Westport restaurant in 2016, LeRose opened a new Bobby Q’s in Norwalk.

Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2012, LeRose initially was given about two years to live. “Instead of sitting back and letting this diagnosis define him, he battled it with the determination of the great man that we all know him to be,” according to a GoFundMe page established this summer to help meet his mounting medical bills. 

“Over the next 10 years, Bob has had to endure numerous surgeries and undergo countless treatments,” the GoFundMe organizers wrote, while continuing to run his restaurants and organize the Westport festival.

“His desire to bring people together and strengthen community is what makes him such a critical part of OUR community,” the fundraisers observed. The effort collected more than $139,000 in donations before the page was disabled.

LeRose was born in 1965 in Greenwich. He began his professional career at Del Monte Foods as a sales associate, according to his obituary. From there, he worked for Gallo Wines, Poland Spring and Nestle Waters, and then Velocity.

In addition to his wife, Kelley, LeRose is survived by his daughters, Alex and Meghan.

A memorial service is planned at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home, 134 Hamilton Ave., Greenwich.