Dr. Robert Francis Engs

I met Robert at the American Army independent high school in Frankfurt, Germany when we were both 14 years of age and sophomores. He was the antithesis of all I had heard from both mildly and overtly bigoted people in my limited world growing up.
I "googled" Robert a few years before I learned of his death and was delighted to see that my 14-year-old's assessment of his campaign for class president and his character were accurate. I'm 81 now and happy that meeting Robert influenced my...

Dear Mrs. Engs,
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope, such as when you and Doctor Engs surprised me with a wonderful bottle of JOY Perfume instead, when I would not take payment for babysitting your son on several occasions.
Remembering you and Dr. Engs today and always. He was a very good man and great professor.
My condolences to you and sour son.
Sincerely,

Nicole Antoine
PENN
SAMP-OT '76

I was an incredibly average student while studying under Bob at Penn between 2003 and 2007. Despite my mediocrity as a historian in training, i had the great fortune of befriending Bob over the years and took just about every class or seminar that he taught. I'll forever remember having lunch and drinks with him on my last day before moving out of Philadelphia, and will forever remember Bob as both my favorite professor and a friend. I had not spoken with Bob in over two years and,...

Dear Barb, so very sorry to hear of your lost. May the love of friends and family carry you through this difficult time. Veda

Dear Mrs Engs, Barbara,Robert Joy&Leah,

So surprised to heat of Robert's passing. Your are in my thoughts and prayers. My sincerest sympathy to you as you grieve your lost

Dear Barb, We are so sorry for your lost. Please know that we are praying for you and your family and here for you. Love, Val & Allen

When I was his T.A. in spring 1989, Bob turned out to be the only faculty member at Penn who really took the time to mentor me in my role as a teacher, beyond my other role as a student in graduate classes. In the late 1980s, his courses in the Civil War and post-war South were popular among white fraternity members at Penn, and I vividly remember students hanging on his every word, as he would say incredibly provocative things (well, provocative historical interpretations) in his quiet, low...

My dear friend Myrtle, I was so sad to hear today of Robert's passing. You and your family are in my heart and prayers.

On behalf of Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park, I would like to express our sympathy to Dr. Engs' family. We were privileged to hear Dr. Engs speak and to speak with him on several occasions. He was truly a gentleman and a scholar, and his advocacy for Fort Monroe's national significance, based on his deep knowledge of its history, played an enormous role in increasing the public's awareness of the historic site. We will always be grateful to him.