October 11, 1943–February 9, 2023
His Empathy Touched Everyone’s Heart
Beloved Room 1 teacher Bob Royeton passed away Thursday evening. Bob had
taught in our preschool for 13 years. He came to serve in the preschool after
retiring as a child therapist. Bob’s children, Katie Waggoner and Chris Royeton, both attended The Meher Schools, as did his grandchildren, Nicholas Waggoner and Wills and Sophia Royeton. Bob wanted to give back to the school he so loved.
As a young man, Bob earned the equivalent of a PhD in child psychotherapy at the prestigious Institute of Child Psychology in London.
In 1983, while he was working as a child therapist, Bob and Susie Kohl collaborated on an article about the psychological benefits of Halloween for children. The article was picked up by the Today Show, and Bob and Susie flew to New York to appear on the show.
Bob’s most treasured years were those he spent teaching at the White Pony. He came to the school in 2009. He loved working at the end of the day and talking to parents about their children. In recent years, he worked in our Room 1 aftercare program. He once wrote:
“I bring the best of my light-hearted self, laughing and playing and letting the children know about their greatness. I greet their parents and tell them of some of the wondrous things their child did and what makes their child so special. My heart expands with all of these kids.”
Susie says, “Bob had such a deep understanding of children’s inner working, and any time I wanted to talk to him about a child who was struggling, he was immediately available. His level of empathy for everyone – children, parents, staff – touched everyone’s heart, and we will all miss him very much.”
Teachers in Rooms 1 and 2 talked with the children about Mr. Bob’s passing on Monday. In Room 1, they read the book Badger’s Parting Gifts, by Susan Varley, the story of a group of woodland creatures who gather to share memories of their late friend, Badger. In the photo above, the empty chair next to Room 1 teacher Chris Cameron is the one Bob sat in. The children painted rocks in honor of Bob. One of them said, “Mr. Bob is on the rainbow bridge.”