Love, that which drives us to give of ourselves, to be happy in the company of another, the essence of all that is meaningful, and why we miss someone. The main story about Robert is about friendships and friends sticking together. Love is what remains after Robert is no longer with us on earth. Memories may fade, but the heart remembers. How blessed is Robert to have friends! Robert teaches us: without love, we are nothing. Contents: | Submit a memory to the Love Blog. Got memories? Photos, and videos? Please contact Us.
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Love Blog
Robert's Honest and Genuine "Wordle"
 Several months before Robert died, he wrote a beautiful essay about being Honest and Genuine. This is the Wordle.
Think about Robert and try doing a Wordle yourself...
Send us a pic! |
Meditation, Thoughts, Hope
 Meditation, Thoughts, Hope Remember Morrey, Rodney, and Rose's son, who died too young. Remember with thanks those blessed with rich lives - Jeanette, Ted, Stephanie's dad, and Floyd's mother. Remember the victims of drunk driving, including the three teens from Magruder HS, who died in the car crash in Olney, MD, May 2011. Remember dead pole vaulters, including Leon Roach and Kevin Dare. Pray the schools and NCAA fix their safety issues, so no more students will die. Pray for those hurt by severe weather disaster and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We hope for the strength of families and friends who lost loved ones. "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, then what am I? If not now, then when?" - by Hillel
One thing we learn is everyone has some pain. You lose someone you love. You struggle to make ends meet. You were rejected. You suffer pain and winter's cold. Then people reach out to say, "You are not alone." Have hope and give hope. Can you reach out beyond the safe zone to comfort and encourage others? Make new friends, and make friends feel good. By, Sandra Giger, originally posted on the Remember Robert home page from June 1 through December 11, in memory of Jimmy. |
Poem by Bobby
Poem, By Bobby Long
Written May 8, 2011. Bobby said, "With the anniversary of Rob's passing coming up, I wrote this for your family..."
It has been a year, Rob You’d now be 21 years old I think constantly of you and all the stories you once told Not a day goes by I do not think of you and it will never change until the day my life is through Your life ended too abruptly We couldn’t believe the truth Not one of us was ready for a world without someone as amazing as you Everyone was affected by hearing of your loss We’d do anything to get you back at any and all cost Sometimes I wonder where you are and how you fill your days At least I know God cares for you in all His loving ways I know He must laugh on even His worst days when you act totally ridiculous and mention to Him “Thats okay” As I sit and ponder of you I have so many questions For instance, how is it possible you left such an impression How do things work up there way up in the sky When one of us is feeling sad are you allowed to just drop-by Can you see us constantly, or just when we are feeling bad Do you know when we are happy or just when we are mad Do you play games in heaven like hop from cloud to cloud When you see something funny can you laugh out loud | Do you miss the feel of sand and grass upon your feet Are you responsible for setting up heaven’s track meets Do you hold concerts for everyone with your astounding voice When you sing for them do even the angels rejoice Can you hear the songs we sing as we think of you Do people get sick in heaven Can they catch the flu Who do you hang out with up there the most Do you split your time between the angels and the ghosts What kind of classes does God himself teach When I fly in a plane are you just out of my reach Do you have a lot of time for the things you did not learn Can you play with fire up there and not get burned When the sun is out are you overwhelmed by its heat When God calls for a meeting can you get a seat Can you stop a rain drop and tell it where to fall Is it even possible to hit God’s curveball. Is there a special number to reach you on the phone Are there quiet places you go to be alone Do you walk on rainbows till the colors stain your feet Will the angels know my name when at last we meet | Are you really far away or always very close Is heaven bright and sunny or in the winter does it snow Can you pole vault to the moon or other planets in the sky Do you now know the answer to the eternal question why Do you hear me sing Insomniac and know I sing to you Are there still big dinosaurs Does heaven have a zoo Are the clouds really bouncy Can you jump really high Now that you have wings please tell me you can fly Can you lift a mountain if only you dare try When there’s forest fires does smoke get in your eyes Can you swim the seven seas and never take a breath Can you light a candle inside a robin’s nest If I am weak and lost can you lead me where to go When a tree is chopped down can you help a new one regrow As I walk the unseen road balancing my fear If I start to falter will you whisper in my ear Do you long for the day we will meet again Do you know how much I cherish you being my friend Do you know the answer to one last question I really hope you do Do you know Robert Giger how much I love and I miss you. |
Robert's Memorial Messages
Memories are like Daily Bread. Thanks for sharing a memory or message. Add a message here.
Or, post a message on Facebook, at the "Rest in Peace, Robert" group.
RIP Robert 1989-2010
“What Would Robert Do?”
“What Would Robert Do?”
"W.W.R.D." That's the question on the Livestrong bracelet (opposite "Yeaaa Boi!").Maybe the answer is: Do something great with your life.
Or using Robert's EXACT words as he concluded his February 1, 2010 essay, "I will create a better life for myself and those around me."
Easy to say and harder to do. It starts with your attitude to be open, be real, and then trying becomes more effortless. How about you?
When you make a difference, you do something great. Even just take a little step. However small, the difference you make is proof the world needs you. When you help, when you have passion: You do great things.
The greatest honor to Robert, is to remember him when you are at your best. Just as the baseball player points to the sky when he hits a home run, there can be no greater honor to Robert and your friendship than to remember Robert fondly when you are at the top of your game. That's the message to Robert's loved ones, "Have a wonderful life, and while you are at it, THANK You for remembering him too in your happiness." Robert is like the patron saint of Joy (not Pity). I'm sure he will be happy when you are.
When you make a difference, you do something great. Even just take a little step. However small, the difference you make is proof the world needs you. When you help, when you have passion: You do great things.
The greatest honor to Robert, is to remember him when you are at your best. Just as the baseball player points to the sky when he hits a home run, there can be no greater honor to Robert and your friendship than to remember Robert fondly when you are at the top of your game. That's the message to Robert's loved ones, "Have a wonderful life, and while you are at it, THANK You for remembering him too in your happiness." Robert is like the patron saint of Joy (not Pity). I'm sure he will be happy when you are.
I wear my bracelet, and I wear it proud! "Yeaaa Boi!", go forth and do good!
Singing Valentines
Singing Valentines
The week leading up to Valentines Day, members of a cappella groups sold Singing Valentines in the cafeteria during lunch. The buyer would tell us the name and schedule of the recipient. When Valentine's Day came along, we were excused from all classes. The whole group wore red or pink as we ran (actually ran) around all day, trying to cram our average of 15 Singing Valentines per 45 minute school period. We had permission to bust into any classroom, stop what was going on, and start singing. We spontaneously burst into song as we made our way through the door way into each class. Led by Robert's confidence and enthusiasm, we would all surround the Valentine and get down on one knee as we sang. The favorite song was "Afternoon Delight," And "Toxic," "She Will be Loved," "All my Lovin," and "Brown Eyed Girl."
Some of the funniest memories are from when Robert would decide to sing to somebody who didn't even have a singing valentine ordered for them - namely, teachers. I still remember when we sang "Toxic" for his male English teacher. Just like all the others, we made the teacher sit down in a chair in the middle of the room and surrounded him while on our knees. Robert could not stop laughing during the song and the teacher could not have looked more uncomfortable.
Some of the funniest memories are from when Robert would decide to sing to somebody who didn't even have a singing valentine ordered for them - namely, teachers. I still remember when we sang "Toxic" for his male English teacher. Just like all the others, we made the teacher sit down in a chair in the middle of the room and surrounded him while on our knees. Robert could not stop laughing during the song and the teacher could not have looked more uncomfortable.
In addition to the outrageously uncomfortable performances Robert would give to unsuspecting teachers, a few great moments were when Robert started to "dance conduct" trying to stay creative on the fly while making sure we all kept in time. Robert achieved this by waving his hands in the correct tempo to help us out and keep the group singing together. I also liked how if Robert started laughing uncontrollably in the hallways or was running too fast, teachers would come outside give Robert the evil eye and he would immediately retract his head, grin shyly and fiercely power walk away in an exaggerated manner to get to the next class room quickly. The best times were when we surrounded a girl we knew (or we had never met but thought was cute) pulled out her assignment book and wrote down our phone numbers or some obnoxiously flirtacious comment in it while we were singing. Supertonics' Singing Valentines were always a success and made girls (and guys) blush way past normal hues of red....simply awesome.
Robert transformed what had the potential to be an awkward and distressing day into one of the most fun experiences of the year.A World is Born
A World is Born
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." – Anais Nin
The world that was born in me when I met Robert... that world is so much more full and multi-faceted than all other overlapping worlds I previously lived.
Of course, I enjoyed the surface stuff: getting dressed up and going out, sharing meals and inappropriate jokes, dozing on his bed while he played videogames, back-cracking hugs whenever we saw each other... but underneath that there was something else.
It seemed that Rob came to us just knowing something big - something that I didn't get and am still struggling to understand.
Though none of us are perfect, Robert was able to exude some sort of focused energy that helped me to make myself feel better, safer, and stronger. And even when I wasn't able to feel those things, he was still there. After his death he still makes me feel good. When I step back and consider what an incredible person he was, I feel so... honored that Robert chose me, that he chose us, to share his life with.
Somehow Robert managed to bellylaugh his way through life.
He interacted with everything around him with the practiced grace of someone who had lived before (______) and recognized what was and wasn’t worth getting upset over. Despite his almost seamless selflessness in dealing with his own personal issues, he invariably honed in when he noticed someone else was distressed, whether he knew them or not. But he wasn’t just “on-duty” when someone was sad: he was so tuned in to the people he surrounded himself with that when we were happy he made a point to share and heighten our elation.
Many people that knew Rob are saying that they’re trying to live life the way that he would’ve wanted them to. I’m not sure what Robert would have wanted me to do.. what message he would have given me if he knew what was going to happen.. if he even would have wanted to tell me anything. But if I can take only one lesson that he taught by the example of his life, and paradoxically by his death, it is to value my friendships. It will continue to be rough without Rob here, but through this new world that was born in me I think I got some tools (or at least an introduction to the manual) to help make myself and others feel the way that he made me feel.
Of course, I enjoyed the surface stuff: getting dressed up and going out, sharing meals and inappropriate jokes, dozing on his bed while he played videogames, back-cracking hugs whenever we saw each other... but underneath that there was something else.
It seemed that Rob came to us just knowing something big - something that I didn't get and am still struggling to understand.
Though none of us are perfect, Robert was able to exude some sort of focused energy that helped me to make myself feel better, safer, and stronger. And even when I wasn't able to feel those things, he was still there. After his death he still makes me feel good. When I step back and consider what an incredible person he was, I feel so... honored that Robert chose me, that he chose us, to share his life with.
Somehow Robert managed to bellylaugh his way through life.
He interacted with everything around him with the practiced grace of someone who had lived before (______) and recognized what was and wasn’t worth getting upset over. Despite his almost seamless selflessness in dealing with his own personal issues, he invariably honed in when he noticed someone else was distressed, whether he knew them or not. But he wasn’t just “on-duty” when someone was sad: he was so tuned in to the people he surrounded himself with that when we were happy he made a point to share and heighten our elation.
Many people that knew Rob are saying that they’re trying to live life the way that he would’ve wanted them to. I’m not sure what Robert would have wanted me to do.. what message he would have given me if he knew what was going to happen.. if he even would have wanted to tell me anything. But if I can take only one lesson that he taught by the example of his life, and paradoxically by his death, it is to value my friendships. It will continue to be rough without Rob here, but through this new world that was born in me I think I got some tools (or at least an introduction to the manual) to help make myself and others feel the way that he made me feel.
The Singing Heart
The Singing Heart
 | Robert was the heart of Supertonics. He elevated the group on so many levels. His incredible musical background and affinity for dancing helped the Supertonics perform. Even when he didn’t have the solo, Robert was still the one to watch. But what he did on the stage is only half the story. Not only was Robert one of the most enthusiastic performers and talented singers, but he was a fantastic friend to every group member. Because of his his spirit and enthusiasm, the Supertonics formed a cohesiveness and brotherhood-like friendship by his senior year culminating in an unforgettable group trip to Kings Dominion. He made each Supertonic excited come to practice, if for no other reason than to hear his infectious laugh and be forced to laugh with him. He didn’t lead by title, but by example. When he talked, everybody listened because they knew there were two possibilities: he was providing an insightful critique to how we could improve the performance of a song, or telling a joke guaranteed to make us laugh and bring the group closer. Robert is one of the biggest reasons that the Supertonics ever became so important and fun to me. |
An Amazing Track Record
An Amazing Track Record
And so many friends, as told by two classmates
And so many friends, as told by two classmates
Robert was an amazing teammate, track captain, and friend to everyone. At Wootton, Robert took track very seriously but made it incredibly fun at the same time. He always gave it his all, and got everyone else energized to work hard and have a good time. He was a role model and leader to so many. The entire team, both coaches and athletes, admired Robert’s enthusiasm, dedication, and determination. Robert’s spirit and energy pushed his teammates to their limits as he cheered them on and got them pumped up in both practices and meets. It didn’t matter how good a teammate was or what their event was—Robert was there to support them with his contagious energy. It was incredible how many friends Robert had, but the more amazing thing is that he truly cared about every single one of them and made each person feel special. It seemed like he befriended almost every person he met, and there was nothing fake or forced about it; that’s just how Robert was. He glowed everywhere he went; his laughter, smile, craziness and loudness could never be ignored, and his mere presence could make your day. Robert had the most charisma and sincerity that a person could have. His friendship qualities were so versatile, and he could be counted on for so many things: a listening ear, advice, and always a good time. Robert was truly a great friend, and a best friend to so many. Footnote: At the Spring 2008 Track Awards Banquet, Robert's team voted for Robert to win the Patriots Award, giving for his outstanding leadership and sportsmanship. | Robert ran track at Wootton High School for four years. In those four years he saw at least five different coaches, and countless teammates but I would say confidently that every one of them have some kind of outstanding memory of him. Robert was a presence on the team. He was loud. If Robert cheered, you could hear him. He knew how to have fun whether it was playing a prank on the coach, picking you up and twirling you around, or whipping off his shirt, running around and comparing his abs to everyone else. And that fun loving and loud boy you couldn’t ignore turned out to be quite the leader. By example, he never gave up. He pushed harder, and never slowed down unless his body made him. The look on his face during any race could tell you that. By enthusiasm, he pushed others. Running beside a straggler, telling anyone he passed to “keep it up,” or screaming with as much force as his lungs could provide were behaviors not uncommon to Robert’s tenure as a Wootton Patriot. He wore his jersey with pride, pumped everyone up with his spirit, and ran every race like it was his last. Robert’s running didn’t stop at the track. He ran everywhere. In our circle of friends it was a running (no pun intended) joke that if given enough open space, Robert would stride, not walk, to his next destination. That was just Robert’s approach to life: enthusiastic, high energy excitement. To sum Robert Yin up as a friend is impossible. To say that he was an amazing friend is an understatement. But, he was a friend to all. He even insisted on trying to bridge the language gap between him and my Cantonese speaking grandmother. Robert greeted you with the excitement of a friend you hadn’t seen in years. He even stained my soccer shorts with face paint on a pep rally day when he insisted on flipping me over and carrying my upside down over his shoulder. And you always knew when Robert was entering a room. The party started with Robert. |
The Balloon Angel
The Balloon Angel
| One of Robert's friends at Grinnell College has a book, "Departures", by
the artist Lawrence Yang, who has the dubiously-named website, http://www.suckatlife.com/. Robert and friends took a liking to a certain "Balloon Angel" in the book. On May 14, 2010 when Robert had his fatal pole vault jump, he was wearing a henna tattoo of that angel on his right shoulder. A classmate of Rob's did the henna tattoo (a natural non-permanent tattoo) for him. In sympathy, several of Rob's Grinnell friends have gotten a permanent tattoo of the Balloon Angel on themselves, in tribute to Robert. When a Wootton High School friend heard this, she wrote the artist. Lawrence Yang graciously sent Robert's mother the original drawing of the angel (left). Lawrence also gave permission for the patron angel to be a logo on the front of the "Team Robert" t-shirts that were sold for the 4x400 Relay in August, 2010. |   |
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