Robert (Bob) Haggett, very spiritual
Robert (Bob) Haggett, beloved husband, father, grandpa, brother and friend, made his peaceful transition Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. He was at home in Pilottown Village, Lewes, surrounded by family. Before he passed, he was able to spend time and recount memories with many friends and family.
Bob spent the last year of his life fighting bravely against lymphoma and dementia. However, he never let this deter him from maintaining his inner peace and appreciating and nurturing the many connections he had made throughout his life. He never lost his joy for life, for family, and for his vision of being a positive influence in the world and a champion for others.
Bob was born in San Francisco, Calif., to Albert and Dorothy Haggett Feb. 18, 1937. Bob grew up with his siblings - older brother Albert, younger sister, Bernadette, and a younger half-brother, William. After graduating high school, he began his journey of growth and learning. Eager to make a difference in the world, he began studying to become a Roman Catholic priest and was ordained Feb. 8, 1964. Once officially a priest, he was sent to Hawaii, Idaho, and then back to San Francisco. It was back in San Francisco that he met Claire Urso, and left the priesthood to marry her. They moved to New Jersey and had their first child, Robb-William. They then moved to Maryland and had their second child, Krista Noelle. Following that, they moved to Delaware where they lived until they divorced in 1984.
Bob never lost his passion for self-improvement and his search for how he could best serve the world. He took many self-improvement courses, including ones with Landmark Education, with which he maintained involvement for many years. He was also an activist in humanitarian pursuits such as the Holiday Project and the Hunger Project. He moved to Maryland and retired from Prudential Insurance as a sales manager after 20 years.
He met his wife, Lis, at a fundraiser, and they quickly discovered that they wanted to walk the rest of this amazing journey together. Within five months, they held a beautiful spiritual wedding ceremony under the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. They lived in Lanham, Md., until moving to Lewes in 1999.
Family was a big part of their lives. He is survived by his soulmate Lis; his children, Robb and Krista; and his stepchildren, John (and his wife Bonnie), Jennifer and Jeffrey (and his wife Ana), and his grandchildren, Jaya, Eli, Matthew and Aiden. His grandchildren were the light of his life. He had a commitment to treating them as adults and equals, and valued the time he spent with them more than anything.
Growth and personal development were a central part of their lives, enjoying continued work through Landmark Education, while also finding great value in Couples-Coaching-Couples. Bob’s passion was making a difference in the lives of others. He also realized that he still felt a calling to be a minister, and together, Lis and Bob made a great team, coaching and guiding couples and performing weddings for over 15 years. During this time, he also taught courses at Osher Lifelong Learning and was a well-loved substitute teacher at Cape Henlopen High School. The couple were also founding members of the Unity-Spiritual Center of Coastal Delaware in Long Neck.
After becoming involved in the Oneness movement, Bob traveled to India where he further explored spirituality. Lis and Bob became Blessing Givers and started a group for Oneness blessings and meditation at the Rehoboth Beach Yoga Studio, which is still thriving on Zoom every week.
In addition to his commitment to helping other people, he was also a strong advocate for animal rights. About five years ago, Bob realized that he could no longer participate in the unjust and cruel animal farming practices, leading him to become an avid vegan with a strong commitment to educating others on the physical and moral value of a plant-based diet. Ever making a difference, he was responsible for bringing Will Tuttle, author of World Peace Diet, to Rehoboth for a lecture at the ThanksLiving Feast a few years ago.
He also attended yoga Mondays and Thursdays at St Peter’s Church in Lewes for several years, and developed a close personal relationship with the members there.
At this time there is no set date for a celebration of life event. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, his family has requested that donations be made to Delaware Hospice and the Unity-Spiritual Center of Coastal Delaware.
