Robert E. Rohrbaugh

Robert Rohrbaugh, 72, of North Lawrence, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
He was born May 13, 1952, Canton, Ohio, the son of the late Edwin and Helen Rohrbaugh.
Bob graduated from Louisville High School in 1970, where he was influenced by his high school biology teacher, Robert Moffett (Moff) to go on to college and study in the area of science. Bob attended The Ohio State University, where he earned two bachelor of science degrees- in Natural Resources in Wildlife Management, 1975, and in Biological Science Education, 1978. Bob went on to Ashland University where he earned his Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, in 1981. While working on his Master's Degree, he established the Jackson Land Laboratory and spearheaded the establishment of the Jackson Bog State Nature Preserve.
Bob always had a passion for science and teaching. He taught seventh-grade science at Jackson Middle School for 35 years. During that time, he earned many honors as a classroom teacher. He was Conservation Teacher of the Year, a quarter-finalist for Teacher in Space and was nominated three times for the Presidential Award for Science Teaching in Ohio. In 1989, he received the Presidential Award for Excellence.
In the 1980s, Bob was honored as Science Teacher of the Year in the State of Ohio, by the Patel Institute. As part of his award, he was given a stipend to travel to Australia to study kangaroos.
At the McKinley Museum, in Canton, Bob helped with the design of Discover World.
Bob was also an adjunct professor for Ashland University in 1983-84, for outdoor education. He was vice president of the Science Section of the Ohio Academy of Science, 1988-89, of which he was a life member. He was a member of the National Science Teacher Association, Ohio Conservation and Outdoor Education Association and Science Education Council of Ohio. He was a life member of the Canton Audubon Association and was a trustee for the Wilderness Center from 1986-90.
Bob was also a co-writer for an article, titled "Trophies to Test Tubes," published in the Science Teacher magazine. He wrote several grants for the school district and he served as a Science Fair Judge at the local, district and state levels.
Bob was a presenter for the Science Education Council of Ohio, in Washington, D.C., once speaking on construction of Bluebird boxes.
Bob loved traveling and was able to visit many places such as Mexico, Panama Canal, Galápagos Islands, Costa Rica, Nairobi, Egypt, New York City where he and his wife went to the top of the World Trade Center. He also spent six weeks in the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming, backpacking.
Bob has been married to his wife Sharla for 24 years. He is also survived by his two stepdaughters, Vonda (D) Smith and Janell Wells; six step-grandchildren, John, Barbara and Cody Wells and Emma, William and Zach Smith and his sister Joyce (Roger) Haidet.
Family graveside services will be held at the Foxfield Preserve in Wilmot. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. Spidell Funeral Home in Brewster is handling the arrangements.