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Robert L. Leight (1932 – 2026)

Robert L. Leight passed away on May 17, 2026, at St. Luke’s Hospital Upper Bucks Campus, Quakertown. He was the beloved husband of Mary Meier Leight, with whom he shared 66 years of marriage. The son of Clarence E. Leight Sr. and Mary Shaffer Leight, Dr. Leight was born in Richland Township on July 27, 1932, and educated in a one-room schoolhouse and Quakertown High School. He served honorably in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, then prepared to teach at Kutztown State Teachers College, graduating in 1959. He continued his education at Lehigh University, achieving an MA in History, a Master’s of Education and a Doctor of Education degree. His first teaching assignments were at Palisades Junior-Senior High School and Pennridge Junior High School. After teaching at Ursinus College from 1966-1969, he taught at Lehigh University from 1969 until retiring in 1995. He served as Chair of the Department of Instruction and Curriculum at Lehigh from 1976-1982. His specialty was the preparation of future teachers. He served as President of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and was a member of several other professional organizations. He was the charter president of the Lehigh University chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. From 1976 to 2015 he and his wife conducted Richland County Day School, a state-licensed preschool, in Richland Township. They were proud of the children who had their first formal education in their preschool. In 1979, Dr. Leight began a relationship with Quakertown Community School District. He served 27 years as a member of QCSD Board of Directors, including six terms as Board President. He was founding member of the Quakertown Community Education Foundation and served it for 17 years, including 12 as Secretary. He was instrumental in founding the Quakertown Community High School Alumni Association. Dr. Leight’s specialty as a teacher-educator was the history and philosophy of education. He continued his scholarship in local educational history in retirement. He was the author or co-author of several books on the local history of the Upper Bucks region.

SURVIVORS

In addition to his loving wife; son: David R. (Georgene) Leight of Quakertown; brother: C. Richard (Barbara) Leight of Perkasie; 3 grandsons and 4 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by sisters: Dorothea Leight Smith, Gertrude Leight Zimmerman; brother: Clarence E. Leight Jr.

SERVICES

Family and friends are invited to call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at his church, 1875 Freier Road, Quakertown. The calling hour will be followed by the service at 11 a.m. The interment with military honors will conclude services at Quakertown Union Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Hellertown. Online memorial tributes may be shared at Heintzelmancares.com.