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Robert Walker, September 19, 1953—January 15, 2024
Bobby was born on Michaelmas Day, the 19th of September, 1953 in Pittsburgh, PA. His parents were Kendrick and Frances, born 1916 and 1915. His brother Ed would be born around two years later. Bobby started walking in his 21st month and speaking at the age of two-and-a-half. At around 20 months, a doctor discovered a heart murmur (which would later be discovered as being a larger issue to do with his heart). Bobby was also an affectionate child, and enjoyed running away. Bobby comes from a family that was hard working and helped in several initiatives that support people with special needs. He had a good start in life in a supportive environment.
Bobby’s father, Kendrick, worked in his own car supply company in Kittanning, PA. The business would later supply Beaver Run, the Camphill boarding school for children in Pennsylvania, with cars. Bobby’s mother, Frances, became very active in creating a day program for people with special needs. She was a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia.
As a child, Bobby attended the Downingtown Special School, where he met Andrew Hoy—a longtime Camphiller who still resides in Camphill Village Copake—for the first time. They both arrived in Downingtown on the same day, Andrew Hoy having come from overseas. Soon, they would live together at Donegal Springs in an 18th-century building that couldn’t be updated due to its historic nature; the roof collapsed twice.
“He will run out and sit in the sun.”
Andrew experienced Bobby as a “charming fellow,” and Bobby remained in the company of the adults around him as Downingtown Special School was established, out of which Beaver Run eventually emerged. Bobby moved to Beaver Run in 1967 at the age of 14. There, he would meet more of the people that would be around him for the rest of his life, including Peter Richards, Kipp Deyo, and Camilla Feer. (Camilla predeceased Bobby in Camphill Village in March 2018). While at Beaver Run, his friend Andrew taught Bobby to knit, read, perform plays, and many other things. A school report from 1968 reads, “Robert has been a member of this class for many years and is a firm support of it. His interests lie much more in the historical field than in the scientific. He has participated in many activities with great joy.” The report mentions his improvement in reading, as well as some of his art. “He has not really begun to be an adults, but wants to stay as a child. However, scholastically, he has shown this year that there is much he can still learn and is willing to learn.” Bobby enjoyed physical education, and performed well in the folk dancing group.
“Robert is very well liked and though language is consistently mostly of single words, he has word understanding and usually gets the point. He repeats words, especially when anticipating an event. He has a sense of humor and enjoys life in the group. Playing games and activities, especially folk dancing, [and] sports… Robert can do a job perfectly, though he needs encouragement to finish. He likes cooking, especially bread baking… Robert is an exceptionally warm and
cheerful young man. He is quite well able to dress himself, keep his clothing tidy, etc. and will even object strenuously to inartistic color combinations in his clothes. He needs still the group’s influence however to see that he dresses warmly enough. He seems to want to believe that it is always hot weather… He is considerate, helpful, and at times, noble.”
The curriculum ended in 1970 when Bobby was 17. In the time between his graduation from Beaver Run and his move to Camphill Village Copake, Bobby attended the Wake Forest University, from which he graduated. After that, Bobby attended the progressive day programs at the Evergreen Homes, Inc., which Bobby’s mother Frances helped to set up, and is still running today.
Bobby first visited Camphill Village Copake with his parents on August 3, 1970. There were no available spaces in Camphill Village until Bobby was admitted on August 5, 1973, and first lived in Tamarack House. His house leader at the time wrote that, “his antics are just too funny and it is hard not to spoil him. He has settled down somewhat, he is full of mischief, going on strike, leaving and hiding. Life for him is one big joke.” Bobby would spend the next 11 years working in Omaskos House in the mornings, and in the Woodshop in the afternoons. The man who ran the Woodshop at the time wrote that Bobby showed “tremendous immaturity. He will run out and sit in the sun,” also noting that Bobby’s pockets are always full of candy.
From 1981 until 1987, Bobby lived in Rock Maple House with Sonni and George, his house leaders. Bobby didn’t have many friendships back then, but that all changed when his “soulmate” Nico came to the Village in 1984 when Bobby was 31. Nico was outgoing and helped Bobby to express himself, and was an anchor for Bobby. Later, Bobby and Nico would work in our Bakery together for many years; it was fitting for Bobby, who had enjoyed baking those breads as a child. During that time, there were no dishwashers in the Bakery, and Bobby really enjoyed being a member of the dishwashing crew. He would help with breakfast preparation and swept the floor, as well. He went to his parents’ house every summer for vacation, and was able to see a lot of the country.
When he was 34, Bobby moved to Argo House, where he joined Karen and Jean-David Derreumaux. Karen said Bobby’s mother was always very supportive of Bobby and the Village. Bobby was always close with Karen’s sons, and they called him Uncle Bob. He was happy with who he was, confident, and loved by everyone.
He enjoyed looking at wrestling magazines at night under his blanket with a torch; he had become interested in wrestling through his brother, with whom he attended several wrestling matches. When Bobby later lived with Jos and Anke Smeele in Juniper House, they wrote that Bobby showed interest in other people living with him in Juniper, and communicated in his own way with facial expressions, but very few words. He enjoyed attending Bible Evenings, as well as going out to the movies with his friends Nico, Adam, and Oliver. He kept close contact with his family, calling his father every Sunday, and visiting his parents twice a year with his brother.
Bobby moved to Undina House—one of three care houses in Camphill Village—with Irena Valujeva and Dries Van Beusichem the following year, and into a second care house—Ita Wegman—seven years later. Bobby was beginning to show signs of his Alzheimer’s disease, and in 2014, and was fortunate to move to Argo House with Joseph and Emilie Papas. Joseph knew Bobby well, as he had been running the Bakery, where Bobby worked, for some time.
Joseph described Bobby and his best friend Nico as essential members of the Bakery: the “alpha and omega.” Nico would initiate a task, like standing at the kneading table, and Bobby would complete the task by putting the bread in a mold.
As Bobby was approaching retirement age, the Papas family and the household benefited from Bobby’s peaceful presence. There were moments when Joseph and Emilie’s infant son Isaac would be in the way of Bobby’s sweeping, and Bobby would pick him up and gently carry him to a spot where he had already swept. But Bobby was already slowing down, and had to be reminded during meal times to take another sip of water. His health continued to decline, and he moved to Ita Wegman—his third care house and final home— in 2016. Bobby retired from the Bakery and spent more time with his fellow elders and long-time peers in Ita Wegman. For a while, Bobby was still able to walk through the Village as long as someone was holding his hand.
A new team of coworkers would find themselves running Ita Wegman from 2017 through 2019. They were Mali, Kim, Keumbi, Andreas, Anjali, Jan, Remy, Zile, and Xiaolin. This group was very busy, as Ita Wegman House had many care needs. Camphill Village hired a nurse, Chelsea, to support the household five days a week. Chelsea would spend a great deal of time with Bobby, and cared deeply for her people in Ita Wegman, as she still does. With the help of Chelsea, other nurses, direct support professionals, and volunteers, Bobby received excellent care and was able to take strolls through the Village in his wheelchair. Eventually, Bobby spent his days in his bed, which also had wheels, and was able to transport him to different places in the Village so he could continue to see his friends and attend our festivals and functions. Bobby was with us all the time, warm under his blankets, for many gatherings and picnics.
*Biography prepared by former Camphill Academy student Andreas Fontein while Bobby lived in Ita Wegman. (Adapted)
