Robert William Pierce

Robert William Pierce, 76, Marshall, Michigan, passed away at home on August 31 after a long illness surrounded by his family. He was the son of William and Sadie (Hohmann) Pierce (both deceased) of Delaware County, PA.

Bob graduated from Chichester High School, Boothwyn, PA, where he ran track and field. On a track scholarship Bob attended Ohio Wesleyan University and then received a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education-English from West Chester University.

Bob taught at The Mitchell-Main Line Day School and in the Downingtown Area School District for 33 years. 

He is survived by his wife, Frances (Roberts) Pierce and two sons, Andrew (Leah), of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Joshua of Los Angeles, California; three granddaughters, Clara, Emily, and Violet Pierce of Kalamazoo; sister Kathy (John Clark) of Glen Mills; seventeen nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews. 

Bob was an avid photographer and birdwatcher and shared his combined talents with many organizations through slide shows, and with gifts of his annual wildlife calendar to many friends and relatives.

His passion for photography touched many facets of his life and resulted in a legacy of photo albums of his wife and family for every year of their lives together from 1977 through 2023. He accepted the role of photographer at the weddings of many friends and family members.

Bob was a member of the Downingtown Education Association, PSEA-NEA Retired, the Audubon Society of America, the West Chester Bird Club, and several photography and book clubs.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 10th at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. followed by a memorial service. A luncheon at the Penn Oaks Country Club, 150 Penn Oaks Drive, West Chester, will begin at 1 p.m. 

Memorial contributions can be made to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, or to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.