About Bob
Robert Carl Reichert
February 14, 1950 – December 10, 2022
Bob Reichert was a poet and storyteller who loved sharing what he knew. He was also a father, a friend, a mentor, and a teacher. This collection brings together his writing and offers a place to get to know something of the man behind it.
A life in words and company
Born on Valentine’s Day in Baltimore, Maryland, to Irma and Frank Reichert, Bob graduated from Brooklyn Park High School in 1968. He enlisted in the Navy and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Maryland.
He was a devoted fan of the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, enjoyed golf, and was an exceptional pool player. He loved animals, including the pets who shared his homes, including Fluffy, Kizzy, Tiger, Boomer, Jenny, Polly and Purrbuttons. With colleagues and friends, he freely shared his stories, knowledge, and experiences.
One remembrance captures how naturally that generosity extended to writing. His niece Cait recalled a day when, as a child, she accompanied him on errands. Bob told her to bring paper and a pencil, then helped her work through a poem as they drove. His excitement made her excited, too. She remembered how special he made her feel.
His longtime friend John, who had known him since seventh grade, remembered someone who stood by him and knew how to build him up. Their friendship held decades of games, conversations, and time together. Those memories give a glimpse of the encouragement and companionship Bob offered the people close to him.
The writing he left
In Bob’s poems, love and memory take familiar forms: the changing seasons, a remembered voice, the shore. “Love Song” moves from the excitement of young love to the understanding of love that has grown older. “Summer’s End” gathers the small, lasting details of a life into a reflection on time, loss, and faith.
Bob died on December 10, 2022, at the age of 72, after a battle with cancer. His writing remains here for those who knew him and for readers discovering him for the first time.