The Pembroke Hill School community mourns the loss of former upper school history teacher Dr. Bob Tostevin, who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Nov. 30, at his home.

Bob joined Sunset Hill, one of Pembroke Hill’s predecessor schools, in 1982.  While mostly an upper school history teacher, he also taught several English classes. During his time at the school, Bob served as department chair, independent study sponsor, softball coach, ninth grade adviser and Liberals Club sponsor. 

A member of the school’s Faculty/Staff Hall of Fame, Bob retired from Pembroke Hill in 2014.  In his 32-year career at Pembroke Hill, Bob impacted the lives of hundreds of students.

Bob earned his doctoral degree in political science from York University in Toronto, Ontario, where he also began his teaching career.

In a short biographical piece, Bob wrote, ”My entry into teaching was one with my refusal to leave education.  Constant contact with youth invigorates me far beyond my own youth, and there is never the threat of repetition or boredom in the classroom. I approach classroom teaching as an engagement of ideas with lively young spirits.  My hope is to help students in their skill development, especially writing, but most especially, I try to win students over to the world of ideas.”

At the time of Bob’s induction into the Faculty/Staff Hall of Fame, a former colleague said of him, “Bob loved to laugh as much as he loved to think.”

Bob is survived by his wife, Lisa, who taught middle school math at Pembroke Hill for many years, and his son, Erik, who graduated from Pembroke Hill in 2006.

There will not be any services.  PHS community members may send condolences to: The Tostevin Family, c/o The Pembroke Hill School, 400 W. 51^st St., KCMO 64112.