Robert Scheiber

Robert was born with Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder. Though he faced numerous hardships and obstacles in life, he touched many people with his outgoing personality, big smile, and passion for music. Robert moved to Rockville with his family in 1958, when his dad became City Manager, and then to Bethesda in 1966, where he attended BCC High School, played drums in the band, and helped manage the baseball and football teams. Following graduation, he was among the first disabled students to attend Montgomery College. During those years, he was an avid duckpin league bowler and also embarked on a lifelong interest in politics, reading the Washington Post every morning and often calling family members to make sure they were up to date on the news. After a diagnostic test for Williams Syndrome was developed in the 1980s, Robert became an active member of the Williams Syndrome Association, enthusiastically participating in national conferences and bonding with other WS individuals. In addition, his longtime membership at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville was a source of profound meaning and comfort for him. In 1980 Robert began work as a clerk at the Government Printing Office, a position he held for 29 years, until suffering a near-fatal auto accident in 2009. Sports, comedy, and music all brought him great joy - especially music. For decades, his by-ear piano playing wove an indelible strand through the soundtrack of family gatherings. Billy Joel's "Piano Man" was one of his favorite songs, as well as his nickname.

To donate to the WSA in Robert's memory, click here