Robert A. Letcher

Robert Andrew Letcher, PhD, 76, of Columbus, Ohio  passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 19, 2026 after a 27 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  Bob was born April 13, 1949 in Steubenville, Ohio, the first of seven children of the late Eugene and Catherine Letcher.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa LeMaster, his parents, his brothers Mark, Tom and Rick and brother-in-law Joel Payton.  Bob is survived by his three sisters, Peg (Mark) Bainbridge, Patty Payton and Jeannie (Fred) Cesario, bonus daughter Corrina (Shawn) Sweeney, sister-in-law Kim Hargett, nephews and nieces Hayley Cesario, Bryan (Lindsay) Hawkins, Jessica (Chris) Stiel, Catherine (Michel) Waelchli, Erin (Zach) Sunderland, Krista (Drew) Hoefler, Justin (Alex)Hargett, Travis (Robin) Hargett and several great nieces and nephews.

Bob held a Mechanical Engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University as well as two Masters degrees from the University of Michigan in both Engineering Mechanics and Public Policy and a PhD in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University. Yes, Bob went to the 24th grade!

Bob touched many lives over the years, including his siblings, extended family, life long friends from all walks of his life including his many friends from Case, Ann Arbor and Cornell, members of his church, and community members he worked with on many activist causes over the years.   He was a caring and compassionate man and spent his life working on the goal of “teaching people to ask the questions”.  We all agree - job well done Bob!

So many of us got our sense of adventure and love of the outdoors and mountains from Bob.  He enjoyed hiking, bicycling, car racing and playing soccer.  He also had a tremendous sense of humor that extended to his nieces and nephews and included his Cookie Monster birthday phone calls, the annual water gun fights (Bob always lost), sharing his love of ice cream with them and teaching them that Pink Floyd was the best band ever.

Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at age 50 and disabled at 54.  The miracle of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) at age 56 helped calm the Parkinson’s symptoms and provided him with many more years of life.  

Bob was a kind, caring and compassionate man.  He was always worried about others and never wanted to call attention to himself or his challenges with Parkinson’s.  Through it all, he never complained (not even once) but rather found ways to contribute to the world by continuing to “ask the questions” and teaching others to do the same.

Bob was a very giving person.  His last act of giving was to donate his body to The Ohio State University for Parkinson’s research.  Yes, Bob is finally a Buckeye!

We would like to thank the staff at Mayfair Village Retirement Center for all the love and care they provided to Bob over the 8 years he lived there.  He felt loved and at home with all of you.  

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 1:00 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 93  West Weisheimer Rd, Columbus Oh 43214.  A luncheon will follow along with of course, a cookie buffet.

In a tribute to Bob, we ask that you wear blue jeans and your favorite hippie shirt.

Offer condolences, www.mostifuneralhome.com