Fitness magazine publisher Robert Kennedy dies

TORONTO (AP) — Robert “Bob” Kennedy, the man behind the Canadianbased publisher of popular health books and fitness magazines including “Oxygen,” ‘’Musclemag” and “American Curves,” has died. He was 73.

Kennedy died Thursday of complications from cancer at his home in Caledon Hills, Ontario, north of Toronto, Publicist Silvie Bordeaux said Friday.

Kennedy, who founded Robert Kennedy Publishing, began his fitnessbased business empire in a 1972 venture when he sold nutrition, bodybuilding and fitness instruction courses through the mail.

He launched his first magazine, “Musclemag International,” in 1974 and started a fitness franchise with stores and a clothing line in the 1990s. He also wrote several books, including the bestselling “Hardcore Bodybuilding.”

He was married to Tosca Reno, who wrote the best- selling “Eat- Clean Diet” series, produced by Kennedy’s publishing house.