Bob Henry, photographed here at 79, taught drama from 1958 to 1979 at Everett High School. The beloved drama teacher died July 17, at age 92. (Dan Bates/The Herald)

Bob Henry, photographed here at 79, taught drama from 1958 to 1979 at Everett High School. The beloved drama teacher died July 17, at age 92. (Dan Bates/The Herald)

A final curtain call for beloved Everett drama teacher

Bob Henry was a teacher whose influence on students lasted decades past their school days. If one alumnus has his way, the Everett High School Little Theater will be renamed in Henry’s honor.

“He provided a groundwork of creativity that lasted all our lives,” said Lois Foraker, a member of Everett High’s class of 1964 who went on to act in movies and TV productions. “He was larger than life.”

Robert E. Henry, an Everett High drama teacher from 1958 to 1979, died July 17. He was 92.

In 2003, the year of their 30th reunion, some members of Everett High’s class of 1973 organized an all-class reunion of Henry’s drama students. They coaxed their beloved teacher, who was 55 when he retired from Everett High, to come back to the Little Theater for the evening. That was the start of Everett’s Reunion Theatre Group. As a director, Henry and his former students put on local plays for years.

Steve Ward, a member of the class of 1973, recalls that magic reunion. “It was fantastic. It filled the Everett High Little Theater with Bob’s former students going back to the late 1950s,” said Ward, now program director at KSER, Everett’s independent public radio station.

Today, the Reunion Theatre Group remains a nonprofit, although a few years back it lost its theater space. Henry was 85 when he retired from directing the reunion players after a 2009 performance, “Exit Laughing.”

While teaching at Everett High, Henry directed 39 full-length shows. “The kids loved it,” Henry told The Herald in 2010. “We were kids together.”

Ward remembers Henry helping students overcome stage fright. “One thing he said to me was, ‘Have fun with it.’ That kind of threw a little switch in my head,” Ward said. “I thought, wait a minute, this is a place where we can really be ourselves. He was a very inspirational guy.”

It’s Ward who would like to see Everett High recognize Henry by renaming its theater, which was once a Lutheran church. “It would be great if it could be the Bob Henry Little Theater,” said Ward, noting that Everett High honored Norm Lowery by naming its gym for the longtime basketball coach.

Henry is survived by his wife of 70 years, June Henry, and by three children, sons Chad and Garth Henry and daughter Marc Roberts. He also leaves granddaughters Moira Roberts and Paige Henry.

June Henry said that after retiring from the high school, her husband landed small parts in movies, including “The Fabulous Baker Boys” in 1989 and the 1990 Shirley MacLaine film “Waiting for the Light.” He appeared in commercials and modeled for print ads.

“He could do either comedy or drama,” said June Henry, who lives in the Everett area home the couple shared for decades. “He was a very strong personality, and also a very loving father and husband,” she said.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Bob Henry grew up in Spokane and taught English in Montana and Blaine before coming to Everett.

Their oldest child followed in his father’s footsteps. A 1964 classmate of Foraker’s at Everett High, Chad Henry co-wrote the long-running play “Angry Housewives.” Today he works in the literary department of the Denver Center Theatre Company.

Chad Henry recalls appearing with other family members in a play his dad directed with the Edmonds Driftwood Players. From early childhood, he remembers his father on stage with a British Columbia theater company. “He was quite a commanding presence,” he said.

His father also loved playing piano and singing. At home, friends and family would gather around the piano and sing show tunes, Chad Henry said.

Victoria Walker, now editor of the Prosser Record-Bulletin newspaper in eastern Washington, met Henry when she worked with longtime Everett Community College theater director Arden Flom. Walker was later executive director of the Historic Everett Theatre, where in 2003 she acted with Henry in “Lysistrata.”

“He always treated people with respect,” Walker said. “So many people are appreciative of him. He made a difference. He lived a full life.”

Anita Williams Christian, another 1973 Everett High graduate, described Henry’s teaching style as “a combination cheerleader and drill sergeant.”

“He always challenged you to do your best and pushed you to do ever better,” said Christian, who now lives in Ozark, Missouri. She organized the 2003 drama-student reunion at Everett High, and stayed in touch with Henry through the years. “He was a great example of how to live life into your mature years. Bob was still doing yoga and chopping wood at 90,” she said.

Foraker left Everett for California after high school. Now back in her hometown, she credits Henry for being the spark that ignited her acting career. Her film credits include “Dirty Harry,” “Gremlins” and “The Exorcist III.” On TV, she appeared in “St. Elsewhere,” “Northern Exposure,” “3rd Rock from the Sun” and many other programs.

“In every student’s life, hopefully there is a teacher or mentor like Bob Henry — someone so special and so instrumental they begin to bridge a pathway to adulthood,” Foraker said.

Bob Henry’s family has not yet set a date for an informal memorial gathering.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Home 2

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Construction continues on Edgewater Bridge along Mukilteo Boulevard on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge to receive more federal funding

Everett will have about $850,000 more for the project.

Providence Hospice and Homecare of Snohomish County on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 in Everett, Washington. (Lizz Giordano / The Herald)
Some wary of Providence home health joint venture with for-profit company

Nursing advocates have raised questions about the deal with Compassus, a national home health care provider.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail February special election ballots

Registered voters in Arlington and Lake Stevens School Districts should receive their ballots by Jan. 29.

Everett City Council president Don Schwab speaks during a September budget meeting in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke/The Herald)
Council leadership changes across the county

At the start of the year, some city councils held elections for new leaders.

Jasmine Donahue talks about being a place for people leave messages when looking for family members, friends or loved ones on the street on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett extends deadline for homeless service facing closure

Hope ‘N Wellness must now comply with city zoning laws by April 30. The organization is “grateful,” its owner said, but still hopes for a permanent solution.

SMART investigators examine police use of force at Marysville Costco.

Police say a suspect’s car dragged a Marysville police officer before it hit a building and caught fire.

Richard Rotter is walked out of the courtroom in handcuffs after being found guilty of aggravated first-degree murder at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bill seeks increased penalties for unlawful firearm possession

State Rep. Sam Low and Lake Stevens Mayor Brett Gailey teamed up to introduce HB 1139.

Snohomish County Council elects new leadership duo

Snohomish County Council voted unanimously to approve new leadership on… Continue reading

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Jan. 9

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Emma Hill rides a bike along Phase 0 of the Bayview Trail on Jan. 6, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Marysville, Lake Stevens celebrate progress of Bayview Trail

Once Bayview Trail is completed, it will connect Marysville and Lake Stevens with a paved path.

Lynnwood City Council Vice President Julieta Altamirano-Crosby speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting. Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former Lynnwood City Council VP resigns to become PUD commissioner

After controversy, Julieta Altamirano-Crosby begins her term as Snohomish County PUD commissioner Tuesday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.