Supporters Like You

He saw it in hospital rooms.
He saw it in children facing more than they should have to.
He saw it in moments where joy felt out of reach.

So he made a decision. He would show up.

Not for recognition.
Not for applause.
But for others.

And for more than 50 years, he has done exactly that. Walking into Shriners Children’s Hospitals. Stepping into parades, events, and quiet rooms where a smile mattered more than anything else. Because to Robbie, being a clown was never about performance. It was about presence.

“What does it take to be a clown?” “It takes a smile. You have to be in it for others, not for yourself.”

That belief didn’t stop with the moments he created. He began to ask a bigger question: How do you make that kind of impact last? That question led him back to something that shaped his own life—DeMolay.

It was where his journey began. Where leadership was formed. Where values took root that would guide him for decades. So Robbie made a decision that reflects everything he stands for.

Through the DeMolay Foundation, he established the “Robby the Clown” Scholarship—supporting young men pursuing chemical engineering, reflecting both his profession and his passion. It’s a continuation of his life’s work.

Because Robbie understands something most never fully grasp: A moment of joy matters. But investing in a young person’s future… that changes everything.

Now, long after the laughter fades from a hospital room, his impact continues. In a young man stepping into leadership. In someone discovering confidence. In a life being shaped for the better.

Because Robbie didn’t just show up for people. He made sure someone would keep showing up… long after him.

From the time he joined DeMolay at just 14 years old, it became a defining part of who he was. He didn’t just participate. He led.

He served as Master Councilor. He earned honors that reflected not just achievement, but character—Representative DeMolay, Chevalier, and later the Legion of Honor.

But what mattered most wasn’t the titles. It was how he lived. Faithful to the work. Committed to others. Quietly building something bigger than himself.

Even later in life, he continued to give back—bringing others into DeMolay, mentoring, and living out the values it instilled in him decades earlier. DeMolay wasn’t something John did. It was part of who he was. And when he passed, Kathleen faced a question that so many do: How do you honor a life like that? Not just in memory. But in a way that continues.

That question led her to the DeMolay Foundation. Because she saw what John had always seen: That investing in young people isn’t just meaningful. It’s transformative.

Through her gift, Kathleen chose to ensure that what had shaped John’s life would continue to shape others.

That young men would have the same opportunity to grow. To lead. To become men of character. Her gift is not just a tribute. It is a continuation.

Because every time a young man finds his confidence…
every time a leader is formed…
every time someone steps forward because someone believed in them—John’s story continues. And through Kathleen’s generosity, it always will.