On Sunday, Robert A. Teclaw went home to be with the Lord. He was 84 years old.

Bob was director of the Alumni Drum Corps. In 2006, the Corps was incorporated and Bob was made the drum major. Under his leadership, the Alumni has entertained crowds all over Western New York and Pennsylvania.

Bob had been involved in drum corps ever since he was a young man, starting as a cymbal player with the old Flying Dutchmen Drum Corps. He eventually played drums and then he was voted in as drum major. It was a big deal in those days, because you really had to know your stuff. According to his friends, Bob learned to be a drum major from Bitzy Briggs, the Dutchmen’s horn instructor, whom he highly respected.

Bob was a major factor in the forming of the Patriots Drum Corps, which won their first field show under his leadership.

Bob and his corps have won numerous awards and trophies throughout the years. A parade was not a parade without seeing Bob leading his corps with pride. Many people knew and respected him. His knowledge and leadership will be sadly missed by family, friends and Alumni membership. Nobody has done more to keep drum corps alive in Western New York than Bob has.

He will be missed.