Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - Saturday, August 12, 1989

R.A. GARAWSKI, 45, TEACHER AND SCHOOL OFFICIAL

Robert A. Garawski, 45, the former assistant superintendent of schools for the Bensalem Township School District, died Wednesday at the Fox Chase Cancer Center after a 10-month illness. He lived on Lancaster Lane in Newtown. 

He was principal of Armstrong Middle School from 1979 to 1984, when he left to become assistant superintendent. Last year, he was named superintendent of the Montville School District in Pine Brook, N.J. 

With a five-page resume of educational achievements ranging from biology teacher to lecturer on effective instruction statewide, Dr. Garawski also was active away from the halls of education. 

He was referee in a youth soccer league and liked to play tennis with his children. He skied, read from the Bible aloud in his church and had reading tastes that ranged from the popular Tom Clancy to books about organizational development. 

Born in West Chester, Dr. Garawski went to Malvern Preparatory School and received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Villanova University. He continued his graduate work at Temple University, earning a doctorate in educational administration in 1977. 

He first taught biology at the Penncrest High School in Media in 1966, and later served as an assistant director of a federally funded environmental educational program in the Rose Tree Media School District. 

In 1971, he became assistant principal of Northern Chester County Technical School in Phoenixville. Three years later, he moved to the Bensalem school district as an assistant principal. 

Dr. Garwaski was a regular contributor of articles on educational topics to professional publications. He was a member of the American Association of School Administrators, the national and local Associations for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Phi Delta Kappa, the Temple University Educational Administration Alumni Association and the Organizational Development Network of Philadelphia. 

He was a member of St. Andrew's Church and the Knights of Columbus. 

He is survived by his wife, Laura; sons, Michael and Daniel; daughter, Laura, and his parents, Stanley and Bernice Garawski. 

Friends may call after 9 a.m. Monday at the Fluehr Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd., Richboro. A funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Andrew's Church, 81 Swamp Rd., Newtown, and burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, 5201 Hulmeville Rd, Bensalem. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert A. Garawski Memorial Fund and mailed to Robert N. Dampman, Bensalem Township School District, 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem, 19020.