Sharron Croddy, Bob's Wife
Dear Family and Friends,  I received this tribute to Bob from our friend and colleague Connie tenBerge in June, 1010.
She was my student teacher years ago, then she joined Bob and me in the science department at Huntsville Middle School, which served grades 6-9.  Bob taught 6th-grade science, Connie 7th, and I 9th.  I think you also will be touched when you read a fellow teacher's reflections on Bob.  Love to you all, Sharron
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Sharron,
I am sorry that this has been so long in coming. Somehow I keep putting it on the back burner. It's probably because I'm not very good at this type of thing. I was in Monticello the day of Bob's memorial service. Since this is so late, I hope that it comes at a time when it might be needed.
Bob was an exceptional teacher. Kids didn't realize how much they learned from him because of his untraditional ways of teaching. As the teacher that followed him, I will always be grateful for the knowledge that he imparted to his students. Little did they know how important some of his lessons were to their total education.
I thought I would share some of the things that I remember about Bob Croddy.
1.	He was always a gentleman. Never did I hear him use foul language in the presence of women. He would open doors and believed ladies went first.
2.	He stood for what was right.  He didn't seek conflict, but never shied from it. 
3.	He was very clever. He could use words in a unique way to get his point across. (Which produced some great satirical cartoons on education in Huntsville!)
4.	He could use demonstrations in class to get scientific ideas across. He could use materials in creative ways (i.e.: the Tardis)
5.	Potato guns always make me think of Bob! 
6.	Dr. Who/Bob and his cool Tardis/desk.
7.	Bob made a paper version of Battleship. Little did the students know that they were using thinking skills while they "played".
8.	I love Halloween and loved that Bob loved it too!
9.	Who else could get so much out of Star Wars or the Hobbit!
10.	Grading parties!
I hope you know that I respected him and appreciated him for his unique ways of teaching. He was missed here at school after retiring and his presence is now missed in our community.
You will always be my "Master Teacher" and friend. 
Connie tenBerge

