Remembering Br. Robert Andrews, FMS

Buddy Woods '79: "I first met Brother Bob in 1976. He was the sophomore track coach for a field of over forty runners. No matter your talent, or lack there of, Brother Bob alongside Freshman coach Brother Aquinas gave you a spot on the team. Brother Bob displayed the same commitment and dedication to every member of the team, regardless of ability, so long as they did their part. He held us to a standard of excellence, and we improved as a result of the work he required. The shared commitment to the sport and passion he inspired led to lifelong friendships among teammates. After graduating from Molloy, I was fortunate to run into Brother Bob at the Fun Runs, or an occasional track meet. I always appreciated the opportunity to catch up with him. His spirit, passion, and commitment to the team were unwavering as each year passed. In 2007, my son became a freshman at Molloy, followed in 2008 and 2011 by two of my daughters. All three ran track, and all three had the opportunity to know Brother Bob. During my eight year span as a parent of a Molloy track athlete, not only did I have a chance to visit and converse with Brother Bob, I had the chance to see from a parent's perspective the dedication, commitment, and life lessons he was teaching every single student he coached. It was a great blessing for me to visit with Br. Bob a few times after his stroke last December. I made my final visit to Br. Bob alongside a few of my 1979 teammates last spring. Before we left, we took him for a walk, and stopped in the beautiful Cabrini chapel for a prayer. As we sat quietly in the chapel, Br. Bob led us in the most poignant and eloquent prayer - petitioning the intercession of St. Marcellin Champagnat to Jesus for the protection of all Molloy students. I'm relieved to know Br. Bob is now in a place where he is at rest, and may intercede for all of us. Br. Bob gave over forty years of service, dedication and commitment. The lessons he taught his students undoubtedly were Non Scholae Sed Vitae."

James Sciales '83: "I’m saddened to hear of Br. Bob’s passing. I ran cross country, indoor and outdoor track for four years. I was not a gifted athlete at all, but stuck with it. Then I got lucky. In the summer before senior year I rode my bike several miles each way to my job as a lifeguard. In the middle of the summer my bike broke and I began running to and from work. So in early September when we had cross country time trials, I was in good enough shape to miraculously capture the last spot on the JV cross country team. Now, back then only Varsity and JV runners got to wear Molloy’s highly coveted Varsity sweats, so of course I was elated. But after two weeks of practice the more talented runners left me in the dust. So reluctantly I had to give them up. Br. Bob never forgot how much my two weeks of JV glory meant to me. When I graduated he wrote in my yearbook, “If we go around again in a ‘new life’ I will certainly let you keep the sweats.”

Andre Forte '87: "Brother Bob Andrews was my track coach for my junior and senior years at Molloy (1985-1987). I will be forever grateful for him allowing me to just run the indoor season so I could pursue my baseball dreams in the fall and spring."

Joe Arrigo '77: "I had Brother Bob in 1975 for U.S. History in his first year of teaching at Molloy. Part of his teaching included something I never saw before nor after in all the courses I took. He stood on the desk and, to teach 'enthusiastically', he would talk near the top of his lungs when quoting historical speeches or other important historical facts. It was, admittedly, quite entertaining! He was a great teacher. Because of his teaching, I did extremely well on the Regents exam that year. I also liked him personally a great deal...a genuinely terrific human being who always cared about others. I was very sorry to learn of his passing, but at the same time very grateful to have had him as my teacher for that year."

Joshua Titus '18: "Brother Bob did a lot for us and the team, especially during times when no one else was really there for us. I appreciate everything he’s done and I’ll never forget him. May he Rest In Peace."

Denise Boccia: I am a parent from St. Peter's Boys High School (Br. Bob's alma mater). I have been affiliated with the track & field alumni since 2016 and keep in touch with several of the St. Peter's alumni from 1953 to present. I implemented our inaugural alumni XC, T&F dinner in 2016, where Br. Bob rearranged his schedule to attend the dinner. He was surprised and delighted to be reunited with his dear friend Mark Walsh at the dinner. Over 200 alumni attended the dinner, and most hadn't seen one another in over 40-50 years. I was an amazing night and it was repeated in 2017 & 2018. I would like to share some photos of Br. Bob at St. Peter's. (in the gallery section below). I notified everyone about Br. Bob's passing and I have received many emails with stories of Bob Andrews. There was never a day I didn't look for Br. Bob at a high school meet just to say hello and bring him up to date with the current Peter's boys track accomplishments. We will miss Br. Bob Andrews!

Bradley Katinas '90: "There are a litany of Bro. Bob stories that come to mind. Track camp circa '88 when a group of us decided to stay up late and break curfew? Joe and Frank I believe you were coaches at this camp as well. Bro. Bob’s answer was to have us go for a run guided by the light of the track van. It was hardly a punishment. We all liked to run and as a teenager this was one of the funniest things we ever did! He was a kind and inspiring man and knew exactly how to connect with the diverse personalities that make up a team. His ability to adapt to different kids within a single generation was a strength. His ability to do it over many decades and adapt to the ever changing norms of the times was his gift. He made me a better runner, but more importantly he played a large role in the tapestry of my Molloy experience. I still enjoy an occasional run. And I cherish my time at Molloy. Several people have commented on hearing his voice in their head at various points of their life. I coached both my daughters in track and field and relied on a lot of what I learned from Bro. Bob and Frank Gambino. (A bit of Ack too, particularly his behavior modification strategies!). I tried to replicate the training workouts and adapt them to the appropriate age group. Our results were okay. I was an average coach. It wasn’t until I realized that the secret sauce was not the workouts. It was important for me to be organized and have a plan, but that was not the answer either. I realized that up to that point I was coaching a team and not reaching individuals. It wasn’t until I became more like Bro Bob that I found my answer. I developed individual relationships, finding out what made the girls tick and most importantly what could be done to create self-belief and trigger the self-motivation for them to push themselves beyond what they thought were their limits. That is what Bro. Bob taught me. Don’t be afraid of testing your ceiling. Don’t be afraid to push past pain, controversy and self-imposed limits. Results are derived from hard work and not taking short cuts. These may seem obvious to most, but as an adolescent these principles are unknown to you and only rare individuals discover them on their own. Most of us need someone to believe in us before we can believe in ourselves. We need to be inspired and taught that we can do 'it', whatever your 'it' maybe. Bro. Bob was one of the men in my life that opened those doors of understanding and I will be forever grateful. We lost a legend."

Joseph Chowske '81: "Bob never left my life after I graduated in 1981. I know...at first I was emotional. I realize his torment is over. May he find the peace he deserves. He was a big part of all our lives. Coach for three years, counselor, colleague, at my wedding, two Christenings, is Devin's confirmation sponsor, coached Devin, and ultimately invited me into his office. Really like a second dad to all of us that had the privilege."

Tom Eikenbrod '82: "Thank you Brother Bob for guiding me and my teammates to a great final season. STATE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPS, Outdoor City Champions and we ran the DMR at PENN that year. Thank you for helping me achieve my running goals and for giving me great high school memories. Rest in Peace, my coach."

Brian Kelly '94: "Br. Bob was my track coach in the mid-90s. We would laugh in the locker room at the ‘crazy Br. Bob’ barbs hurled at us. Inevitably, a silence would follow where we knew he was right. Making us better runners; better young people in this world, every afternoon. Every single day - as all our coaches do. He gave me a chance by putting me on the varsity 4x800 team because I was a “tough little bastard!” – which he once boomed in the middle of a big race to the entire stadium (much to my teammates loving laughter and shake of heads). He planted a seed of confidence that that 17-year-old would never expect would flower. I’ll forever be grateful for his ‘crazy’ belief in me."

Frank Gambino '74: "I started coaching with Bro. Bob in the mid-80's. I was the soph XC and distance coach and then the freshman XC and distance coach while Bob was the varsity coach. Somewhere along the way after we went co-ed I became Bob's assistant coach for all boys distance runners. During all that time Bro. Bob was one of the most compassionate, dedicated, and caring coaches that I knew. Don't get me wrong, he was also uniquely crazy in his own way and sometimes would drive me nuts, but it was that uniqueness that won many championships and endeared him to so many of his athletes."

Mary Pat Gannon: "Bob and I would always talk about our gardens...soil mixture, sun exposure, plant varieties. And this time of year was our favorite time to chatter. And, this afternoon, I was outside weeding and moving hostas, and, naturally, I thought about him. Then I came in and read Br. Dan’s email. We are all on the same journey. Bob is home a little before the rest of us. My prayers and love to all of you."

Lou Santos: "I first met Bob Andrews in 1972. We were both first year teachers at St. Helena HS (now Msgr. Scanlan) which at that point in time was a Marist Brothers school. We have been colleagues and friends since the first day we met. When the Marist Brothers pulled out of St. Helena’s it was Bob Andrews and Br. Declan who brought me to Molloy in 1978. Bob was a caring and dedicated teacher/track coach who was always giving to others. A little known fact about Br. Bob is that he was once the Dean of Discipline at Stanner High. I am deeply saddened by his passing, but I feel that he is now in a better place. His stroke diminished his life greatly. I would visit him while he was in the nursing home. I will miss my friend. RIP."

Sister Elizabeth Bickar: "I'm so very sorry about Bob Andrews' death. Bob was a faculty member during all my years at Molloy. He was kind, caring and well loved by the students, both his American History students and the many athletes whom he coached on the track."

Jonathan DiDonato '01: "I'm deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Brother Bob Andrews. I had Br. Bob for History in Junior year and it was one of my favorite classes that year. Bob was a dynamic person and teacher and he could be very funny at times. In my later years, Br. Bob became a coworker when I joined Molloy's Admissions Department in 2017. He was warm and welcoming to me and I'd sit with him at lunch from time to time. Br. Bob won't be forgotten both personally and for the incredible contributions he gave to Molloy."