Robert Riggs Barnhart

see my comments below

I've many fond memories of Coach/Teacher Barnhart from his first teaching years at Hiram School starting in 1957-58. I met Coach in seventh grade shop class, "Earley watch what you are doing around that band saw!" Got to know him better in the gym at basketball practice, "Earley moved those feet on defense!" Watched him mentor young men as his ball boy/ gofer for the high school team. "Men you played a great game and I'm proud of your effort, your determination, and your heart." Coach...

I remember while learning driver training, Mr. Barnhart had dual brakes, so that he could keep control on any problems that might arise. He thought that I was getting too close to the edge of the road many times. So had to apply the brakes so we wouldn't get in the ditch on the Hiram country roads. He said that I must be ok since we didn't end up in the ditch!
He had a lot of stories from that class and the many students. Would have to let them tell the stories as they saw them....

One day on my way to school, I ended up with two scraped and bleeding knees! Mr Barnhart took me into his office and cleaned and bandaged them. I never forgot his gentle kindness! Jane Shipman

I had the priviledge of providing care to both Mr and Mrs Barnhart at New Life Hospice. Everyday I worked, I observed love and dedication by him towards his wife and then to see their Sons do the same soon after for him, was beautiful. Some people touch our hearts even briefly, and this family has touched mine. Thank you!

May God Bless you and hold you in his arms as you go through this difficult time.

To the Barnhart family let me express my deepest sympathies to the passing of a wonderful man. I met Coach Barnhart in 1957-58 when I played on his 7th grade basketball team. I believe his coaching both the junior high and high school teams at Hiram were his first coaching and teaching assignments along with teaching industrial arts. Coach was an amazingly positive influence on, I'm sure, thousands of students over his illustrious career in education but none more so than those he nurtured...

To the Barnhart Family,

There are no words that can fill the loss of a loved one. Mr. Barnhart was my principal at North Ridgeville High School and he was bigger than life; a good man. I am so glad I got to see him at our 50 year reunion for the class of '65. He will be missed.

We will miss Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart.
I think that Hiram High was his first teaching job. He was a great coach, health teacher, and drivers ed. teacher and shop teacher.
He and his wife came back to Hiram for many of our all-school reunions. They also came to our class of 1961 reunions at Bob Evans in Streetsboro. They set aside gas money to take our star basketball player home after practice.
May they both rest in peace knowing that they always kept in touch with the students and...

Mr Barnhart (as he will ALWAYS be known to me) was such a great man, great principal and superintendent. He had the right blend of tough as nails and compassion. I will never forget this man. One in a million. Rest well now, sir.
Sandi (Businger) Cunningham
Class of 1969