"Robin's Library Bear" Joins the Bear Fever Collection at Middle School East Library

by Jane Stahl

The family and friends of the late Robin Sowers, a beloved librarian at Boyertown Area School District's Middle School East, commissioned a sculpture to add to the Bear Fever community art project to honor her. "Robin's Library Bear" was delivered recently to the school's library and now sits quietly--reading, of course. 

The family's vision was to showcase Robin's love of reading, quilting, and gardening her husband Steve explained. Fans will find the sculpture covered with "patches" of images that Robin loved including her namesake. 

"She would have loved the bear, " Steve offered; but she would have hated any attention to herself that it generated. Robin was a very humble soul."

"My children and I were pleased to have been part of the design and the painting, " he continued. "And we wanted the artist--Audrey Martignetti--to be recognized on the bear; she did an astounding job in painting the patches. She was the perfect artist for Robin's bear.'

The bear holds a book urging an important message and special image that Robin may have shared often with her family and her students.

Audrey Martignetti, graduate of Boyertown High School, is in her third year at Rochester Institute of Technology studying art. Audrey spent countless artists while home for summer break and holidays diligently filling the bear with images of what Robin nurtured and loved. 

Robin Sowers obituary:

Robin L. (Wilhelm) Sowers, 66, of Birdsboro, passed away on January 31, 2025, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of Steven P. Sowers, whom she was married to for 43 years. Born in Elyria, OH, she was a daughter of the late Norman R. Wilhem and Joan C. (Hurd) Wilhelm.

She was a 1976 graduate of Hempfield High School in Greensburg, PA and received her Bachelor’s of Arts from Penn State University. Later, she received two Master’s degrees from Kutztown University; one in English and another in library science.

Robin was employed as an English teacher at Boyertown High School and then at Boyertown Junior High East. Later in her career, she became the librarian at East and yearbook advisor until her retirement in 2015.

Robin had many hobbies. She was an avid reader; she enjoyed sewing, gardening, skiing, and quilting. Robin was a member of the Boyertown Jr. Women’s Club where she was a past president, a member of the Birdsboro Jr. Women’s Club, a past president of the Elverson Garden Club, a member of The Berks Quilters Guild, and a member of the Flying Dutchman Ski Club.

For many years, she was a Girl Scout leader and Sunday School teacher. She was also a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Robin was a proud sports mom for her children. For many years she cheered for her children’s sports teams including Daniel Boone Boys Basketball, Daniel Boone Girls Volleyball, Daniel Boone Swimming, softball, tee ball, and the Maple Springs Swim Team. She also traveled around with her daughter for dance.

Robin was a nature enthusiast. She took pride in tending to her many flower beds and greenhouse, watching and naming all the birds at her many bird feeders. She took delight in making sugar water to put in her hummingbird feeders while enjoying an iced tea with lemon and a sweet treat at her kitchen table. She also enjoyed going to the Philadelphia Flower Show each year. Robin looked forward to helping judge different categories in the show and participating in some of the categories with her garden club. She also received many blue ribbons for her horticulture arrangements at local fairs and events. For many years, Robin volunteered as the caretaker of the herb garden at Joanna Furnace. Robin also volunteered at the Birdsboro Fishing rodeo every year where she enjoyed watching her family fish and working at the snack bar.

In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by a son, Matthew Sowers, of Gladstone, NJ; a daughter, Megan Sowers, of West Palm Beach, FL; a sister, Tracy Harrell, of Ashland, VA, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

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