Teacher, 1970-1973
Robert Rogalski was a popular PE teacher and basketball coach at HKIS from 1970 to 1973.
Alumnus Grant Stone ’73 recalled a poignant experience of Robert’s compassion: “Mr. Rogalski was a mentor to many students over the years I attended HKIS, from 1966 thru 1972. He would display patience and compassion to students struggling in athletics and social interaction and was a very calm and laid-back individual, whether coaching, teaching, or just interacting with students or staff. In 1972 on New Year’s Day, a close friend and fellow student at HKIS, Barry Dean Laubach, passed away. This was a tragic loss to his family, and to many friends at HKIS. The loss of Barry hit me very hard. Shortly after his passing, there was a memorial held for Barry at the HKIS chapel. The place was packed, and the Laubach family invited us to sit in the front row with them. This was extremely difficult for me, and after just a few minutes of Eulogy by friends and staff, I was crying and felt awkward. I got up at a convenient moment and left the chapel. I was outside for a few minutes and Mr. Rogalski came out to check on me. He put his arm around my shoulder and told me it was OK to grieve. He stayed there for several minutes, and when I was calmed down, I went back inside and stood at the back of the chapel. It is about 50 years later, but I have never forgotten those few minutes when Mr. Rogalski held me and made me feel the compassion of another person, not even a relative.”
After leaving HKIS, Robert was the athletic director and a coach at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India. And demonstrating his commitment to Christian values, he later worked in several schools in the US, and was a consultant to Grace Works Ministries there, advising Christian schools about marketing, fundraising, management, and strategic planning. He was one of the first non-public-school administrators to receive the National Distinguished Principal award from the United States Secretary of Education.
His motto has always been:
The situation may be totally impossible…but not serious.