SUPPORTING THE MISSION THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS JOANN AND DAVE ’61 ROBB

Over the years, many long-term relationships, friendships and marriages have been kindled within the walls of Hoban. While Joann and Dave ’61 Robb did not meet at Hoban, they both walked the same halls and were taught by some of the same Brothers of Holy Cross as high school students.

As a 1966 alumna of St. Mary High School, Joann just barely missed Dave in high school but was one of the first female students to attend classes at Hoban in a coed physics course with the legendary Brother Donard.

“At that time, St. Mary's was an all-girls school but was closely connected to Hoban,” Joann said. “I was in a play and several musicals at Hoban. Of course, we went to all the athletic events. When we learned our senior year physics class would be held at Hoban, we were thrilled."

As a Hoban student, Dave was quite active. He was on the swim team for four years, sang in the Glee Club for two, participated in the Spring Musicale as a freshman, and was the band announcer at half-time during football games for a couple of years. In addition, he delivered the morning announcements and was a freshman study hall monitor as a senior. He was also a class officer during his last three years.

Dave was a 1966 graduate of Kent State and Joann was a 1969 graduate of the University of Akron, but their paths didn't cross until they were both teaching English at Firestone High School. After two years, they married and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was at Hoban," Dave said. "I recall comparing the quality of various teachers and cataloging in my mind those methods and styles I thought made the best teachers."

While Joann spent most of her 35-year career with the Akron Public Schools in a variety of central administration managerial capacities in communications, strategic planning and governmental relations, Dave left teaching English after six years. He entered the private sector, first entering the insurance industry and subsequently co-founding a business called TenPoint Crossbow Technologies, a premium crossbow manufacturing company.

Both Joann and Dave are now retired. In the process of helping organize the Class of 1961 50th reunion, Dave was re-engaged with Hoban through former Vice President of Advancement Michael Del Medico ’73. Through this, he realized how instrumental his alma mater was in educating future generations.

"I was fortunate to spend time with Mike, who set up several visits for Joann and me and educated us on the modern mission of the school and how it incorporates all aspects of that mission into the daily lives of the student body,” Dave said. “Today, it is an incomparable educational institution. Eventually, Joann and I concluded that there was no better place to leave part of our estate than to a school so driven toward developing well-educated future graduates who are also good human beings. We hope our gift will help support that mission long into the future through scholarship assistance to Hoban students."