Robert A. Standriff, 1930-2010: TPS educator retired, kept helping kids
9/1/2010Robert A. Standriff, 79, a Toledo Public Schools teacher and administrator who in retirement continued to help children through the Old Newsboys Goodfellow Association, died Sunday in the Manor at Perryburg.
Mr. Standriff of South Toledo learned he had cancer six months ago. Still, he made sure he honored his annual commitment in July as volunteer captain at the 17th hole of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
"He looked forward to that every year," said his son Mark, a former Toledo radio host.
He was executive secretary and a former president of the Old Newsboys, which provides shoes, coats, and clothing to children in need and awards scholarships.
"People who are active in the Old Newsboys put in a goodly number of hours," said Ron Shnider, a former president. "It never came to anywhere near what Bob put in. He was dedicated.
"Bob just cared about people, which is why he had so many friends, which is why he was so well respected, which is why we all loved him," Mr. Shnider said. "He did so much for kids and never asked for a penny."
Mr. Standriff's late wife, Sharon, was treasurer of the Old Newsboys scholarship committee, and a scholarship was named for the couple. He stayed in touch with the recipients, said his son.
Mr. Standriff retired in 1984 as head of student personnel for East Toledo, based at Waite High School.
He was a former assistant principal of the Jefferson Center and a former attendance services supervisor for South Toledo. For much of the 1960s, he was a teacher, counselor, and assistant principal at Scott High.
"The students there knew they had somebody they could count on," his son said.
At Scott, he was an assistant football, golf, and tennis coach and courtside announcer for basketball games.
His career began in 1956 as a teacher at Sherman Elementary School.
"Dad had a gift for teaching people," his son said. "He used to tell me, 'I instruct social studies, but I teach people.' His most important thing was to help people grow to what their purpose in life was and to use all their talents."
A 1948 graduate of DeVilbiss High School, he attended Ohio University before enlisting in the Marine Corps. He received bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degrees from the University of Toledo, where he lettered in tennis. He was a board member of the Varsity T Club.
He and his wife, Sharon, married Aug. 13, 1965. She died July 7, 2008.
Surviving are his sons, Mark, Scott, and Kevin, daughter, Kyle Standriff, and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Coyle Funeral Home, where the body will be after 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The family suggests tributes to the Ray Kest Old Newsboys Scholarship Fund.
Contact Mark Zaborney at:
mzaborney@theblade.com
or 419-724-6182.