David Robben Obituary

Robben, David Charles "Robes"

March 23, 1942 - April 13, 2022. David was the son of the late Francis 'Jim' and Dorothy (Spitzfaden) Robben, loving husband of Jennifer Snider-Robben 'Sweetie Pie,' cherished father of Colleen Thielke (Bill), Jenn Mill (Brett), loving 'Pop Pop' to Emily, Nick, Max, Chloe and Ryland, dear brother to Bob (Muffy), the late Michael 'Mickey' (Jeanne), Donna Knopf (Gregg), Patty Penrose (Michael), Joe (Mary), Denise Meinkoth (Rick), Nancy Persley (Drew), Margie Uxa (Charlie) and beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his former wife Maureen (Doherty) Robben.

A member of the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame and St. Mary's Hall of Fame, Dave Robben played goalkeeper for over 30 years, competing for national championships with SLU & Kutis. He coached for over 50 years at the youth, high school, junior college, amateur Senior Men and Open Cup soccer levels. For 39 years Robben guided Oakville High School (OHS), while amassing 1,125 victories, the most combined boys and girls victories among all Missouri coaches. Capturing state championships in 1991 with the girls and 2000 with the boys. In addition, his teams made it to the final four on 7 other occasions and earned 27 district titles between them. His girls team also won the St. Louis Metro Cup in 1983 and finished as runners-up in 1984. He was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1991 and National Soccer Coaches Association of America Missouri State Coach of the Year in 2000, along with a plethora of other awards and honors. Robben was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame.

In spite of these accomplishments, Dave would ask, 'But what defines success?' A fellow transcendental traveler Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated: 'To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.'

For Dave, he was most himself with his family. Whether vacationing and snorkeling with his 'Sweetie Pie' in his favorite place on earth, the Caribbean islands or working alongside his Media Coordinator for the OHS varsity soccer program, Jennifer was his true north and brought out his authentic self. From floating down the Black River to dancing at Native American pow wows, Dave was an avant-garde 'girl dad', instilling confidence, independence, and the courage to look inward. He showed his two daughters how to connect with nature and 'dance first, think later.' The gregarious Grand Dude cherished his visits with the five grandkids. Pop Pop introduced them to classic movies, new genres of music and the art of storytelling, accompanied by his belly laugh. As the eldest of nine siblings, Dave Robben understood what family meant.

Dave again followed Emerson's precepts as he sought 'to find the best in others; To give of self; To leave the world a bit better' in all parts of his life and most clearly in his worldly raison d'etre, education. Through teaching and coaching, Dave Robben found his purpose and passion. He honed his craft for 12 years at Woodward Elementary before moving into a new phase of his life and finding his true home at 5557 Milburn Road.

OHS remained a constant in his life for the next 39 years and while others often see a job as just work, Dave Robben, like with many things in his life, saw it differently. 'Every morning I don't get up to go to work, I get up to go to school and do something I love to do: teach and coach.' These simple words epitomize his desire to continue his own growth intellectually, spiritually and emotionally, allowing him to stay mentally young. 'At some point in my life, I realized that teaching was my karma.'

For Dave, 'work was love made visible.' Through a quest for growth, Mr. Robben shaped the lives of thousands of students and colleagues. His holistic approach looked not to fill the brain with inert facts, but rather train the mind to seek out wisdom of its own. His classroom became the 'Robben Zone.' A place where individuality, self-awareness and reflection happened intuitively, with Mr. Robben, serving as educator, guide and shaman, helped students become lifelong learners and masters of their own destiny. To enter Room 101 meant to hear the dulcet tones of DEVO and Bob Marley and eschew conformity, it meant to be challenged mentally, but it also meant to be heard, valued and appreciated.

Robben's teaching didn't end with students, as he served as unofficial mentor to more educators and coaches than can be named. 'Robes' always had a story and the time to commiserate with colleagues, young and old. He looked to glean knowledge from all he encountered. Although Dave, the 2008 OHS Teacher of the Year, began in an older era of education, he was never idle and stayed on the cutting edge of education, culture and coaching. This want, to be in constant forward motion, made him not the stolid professor in an ivory tower, but instead the active seeker of wisdom searching for an Eldorado of truth.

He soon combined his two passions and found his next classroom, the soccer field. Here he made an impact influencing generations through a coaching philosophy that exuded class and respect, fostered technique and skill and demanded hard work and commitment. To play Oakville Soccer meant to share Coach Robben's fighting spirit and understand that 'Soccer is a way of life; soccer is not merely a game, it is a passion.' With Coach Robben's guidance, Oakville Soccer achieved greatly but was not defined solely by achievements. Rather 'Oakville Soccer was always about the strength of the pack, a reflection of what we did as a team,' and a kinship born out of knowing someone always had your back.

'Will I continue to breathe–will I continue to laugh - will I continue to grow and evolve? Yes' and true to his karmic nature, Coach Robben kept moving forward. Returning for one more run with family as he assisted his nephew, Jeff Robben at Lutheran South, culminating in a thrilling 3rd place State finish in the 2021 Spring season.

Emerson felt that 'to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded,' and he was right as we have shared time and space with such a man. What Dave passed onto others throughout his rich and vibrant life returned to him, as he was surrounded by love, with his daughters Colleen and Jenn, and his wife Jennifer, by his side as he boldly moved into another phase of his cosmic journey.

'It's been real - It's been really real - may the road rise up and the wind be at your back - Jah Love - One Love - Namaste - d.robben'

In lieu of flowers, donations can be mailed to Washington University/Heart Failure Program /#30254, MSC-1082-414-2555, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-9989. Checks can be made out to Washington University with 'Heart Failure Program /#30254' on the memo line. Donations can also be made online at gifts.wustl.edu. Please designate 'Heart Failure Program /#3025' in the "enter my own designation' field.

Special acknowledgement and thanks to the amazing nursing staff at Missouri Baptist Hospital, Dr. Edward M. Geltman, Sandy RN, Dr. Dan Cooper, Tonya RN, Dr. Jay Seltzer and Theresa and Larry Peterson.

Visitation, Mass and a Celebration of Life will be held in early August. A service of Kutis Affton Chapel.