Dan Robarts was my brother. He was my older brother, my only brother and I looked up to him in so many ways. One thing I can say about Dan was he was courageous. When he went out for football I knew I wanted to as well. When he joined the military I too followed suit. For those who knew Dan better they could say that he was a good friend who accepted others as they were.
In early elementary school Dan routinely spent time with a friend that was challenged. This boy met him at the gate every day during recess and Dan was the last to know he was special. One day the boy was troubled and several teachers including the principal tried to calm him down. They tried everything and were concerned. As a last resort they went to Dan's classroom and borrowed him to console the boy, and upon seeing Dan the boy calmed down. At 8 years old his interpersonal skills and acceptance of others were were on a level that many parents would be very proud of.
From the get go he also played with the older kids while a youngster. I admired him because I was so shy. As he grew older his humor developed and became very personable. He knew history very well and took an interest in military tactics, books and often attended airshows. He was destined to serve his country and he joined the 82nd Airborne out of highschool. The last years I spent with my brother I noticed he was becoming a man. He was going to be a fireman. Fitting seeing that my mother called him Dan Dan the Fireman as a child. I often think about my brother and have come to appreciate how life is so fragile. His time with us was short but he left his mark with us as a friend, a military veteran and a brother.
Ben Robarts
Dan Robarts was my brother. He was my older brother, my only brother and I looked up to him in so many ways. One thing I can say about Dan was he was courageous. When he went out for football I knew I wanted to as well. When he joined the military I too followed suit. For those who knew Dan better they could say that he was a good friend who accepted others as they were.In early elementary school Dan routinely spent time with a friend that was challenged. This boy met him at the gate every day during recess and Dan was the last to know he was special. One day the boy was troubled and several teachers including the principal tried to calm him down. They tried everything and were concerned. As a last resort they went to Dan's classroom and borrowed him to console the boy, and upon seeing Dan the boy calmed down. At 8 years old his interpersonal skills and acceptance of others were were on a level that many parents would be very proud of.
From the get go he also played with the older kids while a youngster. I admired him because I was so shy. As he grew older his humor developed and became very personable. He knew history very well and took an interest in military tactics, books and often attended airshows. He was destined to serve his country and he joined the 82nd Airborne out of highschool. The last years I spent with my brother I noticed he was becoming a man. He was going to be a fireman. Fitting seeing that my mother called him Dan Dan the Fireman as a child. I often think about my brother and have come to appreciate how life is so fragile. His time with us was short but he left his mark with us as a friend, a military veteran and a brother.
Ben Robarts
AV Class of 1992