Robert A. "Bob" Reber Sr.

Robert A. "Bob" Reber Sr., a beloved West Chester elementary and middle school teacher, died on March 28, 2013, after a brief illness. He was 80.
Mr. Reber was born Aug. 8, 1932, in Baltimore to Ben and Elizabeth Reber. He graduated from Malvern Preparatory School in 1950, where he was a standout lacrosse player. In 1954, he earned his bachelors of arts degree in English from what was then Villanova College.
While at Villanova, Mr. Reber earned pocket money by bartending at Kelly's, the popular campus pub. After two years in the U.S. Army, he started his career as an educator.
Mr. Reber taught for more than 30 years in the West Chester Area School District, beginning as a sixth-grade teacher at Fern Hill Elementary School. He joined the staff there in 1962, quickly becoming a student favorite. Mr. Reber's humor and discipline were blended perfectly in the classroom, keeping students engaged while continually pushing them to achieve more. Mr. Reber would tell his new students every fall that both his first and last names were palindromes – words that could be spelled correctly both forward and backward.
While at Fern Hill, Mr. Reber served as the president of the West Chester Area Teachers' Association, the union representing the district's teachers, and was lauded for his successful contract negotiations. When the district changed from the junior high school to middle school model in 1978, he became a sixth-grade math teacher at JR Fugett Middle School, where he taught until his retirement.
In 1993, Robert Reber and his loving wife of 53 years, Kathleen (Riemann), retired to Cape May, N.J., where he had worked as a lifeguard during his college summers and had vacationed with his family. In Cape May, the couple enjoyed 10 wonderful years of walks on the promenade, beautiful sunrises, and visits from friends and family. To spend more time with their grandchildren, they moved back to West Chester in 2003 where he lived until his passing.
In addition to his wife Kathleen, Mr. Reber is survived by his five sons, Bob Jr., Chris and his wife Nancy, Mark and his wife Krista, Matt and his wife Michele and Chet and his wife Leah. He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren, Patrick, Zack, Jake, Maddie, Alex, Grace, Libby, Brady, Charlie, Ali, and Carli.
Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass at noon on Friday April 5, at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 1325 Boot Road, West Chester, Pa., with a visitation beginning at 11 a.m.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Lockbox 1352, P.O. Box 8500, Philadelphia, PA 19178-1352, which continues to provide outstanding care to the Rebers' grandson, Charlie.
Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home of West Chester, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFh.com.