Robert E. DeGroff

ROBERT E. DeGROFF January 27, 1950 Mar ch 24, 2006 Bob passed away on March 24, 2006, due to lung and kidney failure at the age of 56. Bob was born in Montebello, CA in 1950. He graduated from West Covina High School where he competed successfully in speech and debate, served as the ASB president, and participated in shot put for the track team. Bob received his Bachelors in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara and a teaching credential from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Bob and his wife moved to Charlottesville, VA where Bob founded the spee ch program at Orange High School. Bob and his wife began their family with the birth of two girls and after eight years moved back to California. He later completed his Masters in Social Sciences at Cal State San Bernardino. Bob was a teacher at Colton High School, where he taught Academic Competition, Advanced Placement Government, and Advanced Placement Economics. His passion for teaching is reflected in his 27 years of service as teacher and as a coach. Throughout his career Bob won numerous awards for h is dedication to his students, including being recognized as Outstanding Teacher of the Year at Dodger Stadium, being inducted into the Nationl Forensic League Hall of Fame, and being a recipient of the National Forensic League Third Diamond Key Award. Bob also served as President of the Citrus Belt Speech Region for 12 years and as President of the Californian High School Speech Association for 2 years. He will be greatly missed by his wife Margaret; daughters, Alice and Carrie; son-in-law Rafael; grandchi ldren Ariel and Ethan; father Al; brother Bill; Aunt Billie and Uncle Phil, Aunt Florence; and several cousins, nephews and nieces, friends and colleagues, and by all who knew him. A celebration of Bob's life will be held at the Colton High School Auditorium, 777 W. Valley Blvd., Colton, CA 92324, Sunday, April 9, 2:00 p.m. Flowers are welcome as are contributions to the Colton HS Academic Competition Program, c/o The Robert E. DeGroff Memorial.