In Memoriam: Bob Pape

Longtime Healdsburg resident Bob Pape, a well-loved leader in local schools who went on to become a bit of a community fitness guru, passed away earlier this month at the age of 76, according to his obituary — “after a short and intense battle with acute myeloid leukemia.” Bob served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, then went into education. More from his obit: “In 1980 he was hired as Principal of Mountain View Continuation High School in Healdsburg and transformed the school into a model for the state. In 1985 he was transferred to Healdsburg High School as Associate Principal where he served a number of years. In all his years in education, he was committed to the best possible results, caring deeply about the success of every student. While at Healdsburg High, Bob coached high school wrestling, the cross-country team and the baseball team.” He later climbed the ranks at the California School Leadership Academy, where he helped develop the curriculum at schools across the North Bay. Then, “after a stroke accelerated his retirement in 2007, Bob continued his physical rehab by working with a local personal trainer” — running various fitness groups for his “fellow oldsters” out of the Healdsburg home he shared with Mo, his wife of 43 years. “There is a river of people whose lives Bob deeply touched with his friendship, knowledge, insights, humor and thirst for deeper understanding,” his obituary says — “relating or teaching with love, with plenty of laughter sprinkled in.” (Source: Legacy.com)