I remember Bob accompanying the choir on the piano. He played for my audition to the Cleveland Institute of Music, and I was admitted with a full-tuition scholarship based on that audition. Thanks, Bob.
Nine years later I heard he died from complications of Crohn's disease. (Don't know if that's accurate.) He was an only child, and I remember feeling very sorry for his parents when I got the news.
Actually, he wasn't an only child, his brother Tom was in the class of 1963 and is still alive. HIs mother, Ruth Kerr, taught English at BHS and his father Ed, was the branch manager of the National City Bank branch in Berea.
A couple of years ago I happened purely by chance upon the obit for Ruth Kerr in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Totally unknown to me she had grown up and met her future husband in the north-of-Pittsburgh town of Mars. Sally Dean and I attended the visitation for her and had a great visit with Tom and his family. Her grandchildren were so interested to learn of her teaching...I bragged that she was one of the very best I'd ever had. They all were born after she left teaching! We also learned that Bob is buried in the Mars cemetery near his mother. I have yet to visit their burial sites but it's definitely on my list!
Very special family. Bob and I shared many interests and enjoyed playing piano together...once in Student Night, if memory serves me. Smart, talented and really nice person! Betty Fitzgerald Luff.
Thank you for sharing your story of Mrs. Kerr. Your story helps to close a loop in time for many of us. I was privileged to be able to spend time with Mrs. Kerr at our BHS school tour at our 25th reunion. She was so glad to talk about Bob, but the pain of losing a child was still strong despite the intervening years. Bob had many wonderful qualities, but what I always remember is the kindness that Bob showed to everyone at a time in our lives when kindness was not a highly expressed attribute among high school boys.
I must sat Bob's death was shocking to me because it was the first person I recall who died that was in my class. I do also remember everytime I passed their house, since we just down the street I would think of Bob and his family. Bob was a special person and my sense of him has remained strong throughout the years!
Bob and I were good friends. He accompanied me when I played my clarinet at recitals and contests --- he was a kind, nice guy, and I was really stunned when he passed - he was attending Williams College at the time. And his mom was a gem! A really good English teacher, too. I didn't know that she was from Pittsburgh. Interesting ---
Barbara Freeburn (Harshey)
Bob died November 30th 1976. He contacted a virus that attacked the heart.Angela Kuder (Hulligan)
I remember Bob accompanying the choir on the piano. He played for my audition to the Cleveland Institute of Music, and I was admitted with a full-tuition scholarship based on that audition. Thanks, Bob.Nine years later I heard he died from complications of Crohn's disease. (Don't know if that's accurate.) He was an only child, and I remember feeling very sorry for his parents when I got the news.
We'll miss you, Bob!
Angela Kuder Hulligan
John Laurence
Actually, he wasn't an only child, his brother Tom was in the class of 1963 and is still alive. HIs mother, Ruth Kerr, taught English at BHS and his father Ed, was the branch manager of the National City Bank branch in Berea.Angela Kuder (Hulligan)
Memory over time becomes distorted, I guess. Thanks for the corrections!
A. Kuder Hulligan
Betty Fitzgerald (Luff)
A couple of years ago I happened purely by chance upon the obit for Ruth Kerr in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Totally unknown to me she had grown up and met her future husband in the north-of-Pittsburgh town of Mars. Sally Dean and I attended the visitation for her and had a great visit with Tom and his family. Her grandchildren were so interested to learn of her teaching...I bragged that she was one of the very best I'd ever had. They all were born after she left teaching! We also learned that Bob is buried in the Mars cemetery near his mother. I have yet to visit their burial sites but it's definitely on my list!
Very special family. Bob and I shared many interests and enjoyed playing piano together...once in Student Night, if memory serves me. Smart, talented and really nice person! Betty Fitzgerald Luff.
Ray Androne
Merry Christmas Betty!
Thank you for sharing your story of Mrs. Kerr. Your story helps to close a loop in time for many of us. I was privileged to be able to spend time with Mrs. Kerr at our BHS school tour at our 25th reunion. She was so glad to talk about Bob, but the pain of losing a child was still strong despite the intervening years. Bob had many wonderful qualities, but what I always remember is the kindness that Bob showed to everyone at a time in our lives when kindness was not a highly expressed attribute among high school boys.
Charlene Keesy (Hanchak)
I must sat Bob's death was shocking to me because it was the first person I recall who died that was in my class. I do also remember everytime I passed their house, since we just down the street I would think of Bob and his family. Bob was a special person and my sense of him has remained strong throughout the years!
Jane Welty (Schult)
Bob and I were good friends. He accompanied me when I played my clarinet at recitals and contests --- he was a kind, nice guy, and I was really stunned when he passed - he was attending Williams College at the time. And his mom was a gem! A really good English teacher, too. I didn't know that she was from Pittsburgh. Interesting ---