Dr. Robert Edward Anastasi peacefully passed away on February 17, 2021 surrounded by his family.
Bob was born December 10, 1939, to Virginia Spigone and Anthony Anastasi in Washington, DC. He is predeceased by his parents and his step-mother, Martha Anastasi.
Bob was a proud 1957 graduate of Blair High School in Silver Spring. Upon his graduation he attended Towson State Teachers College where he received a bachelor’s degree in Education and was a charter member of the Towson State men’s lacrosse team. He taught elementary school in Montgomery County for five years. While teaching, he earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland in Educational Administration and Supervision. In 1966 he became an assistant principal, and in 1968, he was hired as Montgomery County’s youngest school principal at the age of 28.
In 1976, Bob took a sabbatical to earn his Doctorate of Educational Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi. Bob was a beloved principal for 18 years. He worked tirelessly for the well being of his students and staff. He retired from MCPS in 1986, but never retired from his work in education. From 1986-1989, he went on to serve as the Director of the National Principals Academy for the National Association of Elementary School Principals. In 1989 he became the Executive Director of the Community of Caring, a Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.
From 1991-2000 Bob was the Executive Director of the Maryland Business RoundTable for Education Foundation. From 2000-2004 Bob was the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education and while there, with MCPS Superintendent Gerry Weast, helped establish AmeriCorps Project CHANGE. From 2006 to 2008 Bob served as a consultant for Coffey Consulting in support of their federal education projects. From 2006 until just recently, Bob served as a Consultant to the President of the George B. Thomas Learning Academy in Montgomery County.
Bob’s motto was “family is everything” and was most happy spending time with his wife, Wanda, and their beautiful family whether it was in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Disney World, their home, “HQ,” in Urbana, Maryland, or attending any event that his grandchildren were a part of.
He is survived by his beautiful wife, Wanda McGee Anastasi, his daughters Karen Wills (Bob) and Lisa Rose, his grandchildren Francis Rose, Robert Wills (Kim), Connor Wills, Jake Wills, and Kate Wills, and his great grandchildren Evan and Tripp Wills. He is also survived by his beloved brother, Anthony Anastasi (Jeanne), his Aunt Amanda Anastasi, his brother-in-law Larry McGee (Kathy), sisters-in-law Cora Rencher and Sandra McGee, many, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and Godchildren.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 21, 2021 from 3:00pm-5:00pm and Monday, February 22, 2021 from 10:00am-11:00am at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 4103 Prices Distillery Road, Ijamsville, MD 21754. A Private Mass will be held for the family at 11:00 am. Interment Private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be graciously made in Robert Anastasi’s name to The Saturday School of the George B. Thomas Learning Academy. Sligo Middle School. 1401 Dennis Avenue. Silver Spring, MD. 20902. You can also donate online – please put “in memory of Robert Anastasi” https://saturdayschool.org/donate/
Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.