Penn State remembers Robert Shoop

Penn State remembers Robert Shoop

NATE SHARIF Senior Staff Writer

nas5758@psu.edu More than a dozen Penn State Beaver students and staff gathered at the Sperling Funeral Home in Wexford in May to say goodbye to a former student, Robert John Shoop.

Shoop, born June 7, 1999, passed away suddenly on May 6. He is survived by his parents Kyle and Christine Shoop.

“Robert was a jolly goofball,” said Benjamin Chen, a sophomore. Chen said he and Shoop had been friends since the third grade, and he could not believe the news that Shoop had passed away.

Shoop, who had just completed his sophomore year, initially began his college career by pursuing a degree in engineering but later switched his major to economics.

“Robert found the first semester to be a bit rough and wanted something new,” said his father, Kyle Shoop.

When asked about the details surrounding Shoop’s passing, his parents declined to comment.

Robert Shoop, second from left, poses with other Penn State students in Amsterdam during the 2019 spring break trip to Europe.

Roar file photo

Shoop, who lived in Harmony Hall, was actively involved in the fantasy and sci-fi club and fiction writing, said Jill Tress, the Learning Center and Disabilities Services coordinator.

Additionally, Shoop was an avid lover of 12th century European history including Constantine and Constantinople. When Beaver announced that students would have the opportunity to visit Paris during spring break, Shoop jumped at the opportunity.

Chen said he and Shoop also had plans to travel together.

“He was really happy when I told him I would take him to China,” said Chen. “Robert was excited to try new things.”

Shoop’s personal love of history and analytics eventually led him to the economics major where he flourished. He was planning to attend the University Park campus this fall as a junior.

“Robert was becoming more confident,” said Kyle Shoop. “I believe he would have become a teacher of history or economics.”

Laurie Barnes, an adjunct art instructor, said Shoop was primarily focused on his schoolwork and friends.

“Robert was very sweet… an incredibly thoughtful student,” said Barnes.

Barnes said she was in disbelief when she received news of his passing. “I hadn’t thought it was possible, being so young in college. You get attached to your students,” said Barnes.

Shoop, along with other students, collaborated with Barnes on a section of the art mural located on the lower level of the General Classroom Building.

Junior Patrick Byers, a resident assistant in Harmony Hall, said he knew Shoop well. “Having Robert around would always guarantee a good time.”

Byers recounted that both he and Shoop had at one time been a part of the Boy Scouts of America. “We were both a part of the same camp, just not at the same time,” said Byers. “Years later we would attend the same college together.”

Byers said that Shoop was one of those people who just made others feel comfortable.

Kyle Shoop agreed. “If I was having a bad day, I could look at Robert and he would bring me back to reality.”