Rockford — Though Robert Bowman has been retired since 2010, the former custodian is as familiar a face at Parkside Elementary as he was when he started working there in 1975.
That’s because for the past 50 years, Bowman, better known as “Mr. Bob” on the school grounds, has been coming back to Parkside to collect recyclables with groups of student-volunteers.
As the school year — Parkside’s last as an elementary before transitioning into an early childhood center — drew to a close, students and teachers celebrated Bowman with a few kind words, a plaque commemorating half-century of service, a T-shirt, and a redbud tree planted in his honor in a greenspace behind the building.
“There are people in the world who care more about other people than they care about themselves — we call them givers. Mr. Bob has been doing that for a very long time,” said Parkside Principal Mindy McGinn during a small ceremony in late May.
Students took turns talking about Bowman and what they like most about their recycling efforts. They help him collect boxes of paper recycling and transport them to the custodian’s room for pickup by the school’s recycling service, sorting out plastic as they go.
“I like the actual recycling part, like, getting all the recycling from the rooms,” said third-grader Maeve Lisenbee.
Third-grader Abigail Pipeer said she loves recycling “because Mr. Bob said if we find something cool we can take it home.”
“If you ask permission,” Bowman interjected with a chuckle.
Several students noted that Bowman routinely brings in board games of his own design for students to play during downtime; the games have been a big hit with students.
“I love spending time with him,” said fourth-grader Lynnie Manley, “and doing the games because it’s really fun.”
Bowman was surprised and humbled by the gesture.
“It was very nice of them,” Bowman said. “I appreciated it. It felt good.”
As for what keeps him coming back to Parkside, even years after his retirement, Bowman said it’s all about the kids. He only intended to help with the school’s recycling efforts for one year after his retirement, so he could see a group of his then-fourth-grade volunteers through until the end of their fifth-grade year.
“When I retired, the kids wanted me to keep on, so I kept coming back,” he said. “And each year, more kids wanted me to come back … so it kept continuing on.”
Bowman is unsure what’s in store for the 2025-26 school year. He’d love to keep helping, but the preschool-age students coming to Parkside in the fall might not be quite old enough to volunteer.
McGinn, who will be the Parkside ECC principal next year, said she’s trying to figure out a solution. There’s a chance Bowman will go to Valley View Elementary, or that elementary-level students will come back to Parkside for an hour or so a week.
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