Robert Henry Rikert Bittle

Robert Henry Rikert Bittle, 69, passed away on February 17, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina. Born in Durham on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1956, his friends and family liked to joke that only he could manage to be born on two holidays at once. He was full of wit and imagination and never took life, or himself, too seriously.

He spent his childhood in Forest Hills alongside his siblings Claude Jr., Betsy, and Rebecca. His early years were marked by adventures, mischief, and memorable family trips to visit his maternal grandparents in Northfield and Rockport, Massachusetts.

Music shaped Robert from the moment his sister Betsy sat him down to listen to 45 rpm records of the Beatles’ “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” That spark never faded. He taught himself guitar and a bit of piano and spent the next half‑century playing, writing, and sharing music. He performed in many bands, most notably the X‑Teens, whose new‑wave sound found its way onto MTV and Nick Rocks. Robert retained his musician’s spirit, continuing to play and compose throughout his life. With the production help of his dear friends Ronnie Parks and former X-Teens’ bandmate Todd Jones, Bittle produced his final album, Gratitude, in 2025.

Robert graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982 with degrees in journalism and philosophy. At UNC, he met his lifelong friend Perry Howell, who would later stand beside him as best man at his wedding. He was also in the first graduating class of the Carolina Friends School (CFS), a community that would become central to his life. After college, he returned to CFS and spent 37 years teaching students of different ages and subjects, including history, mythology, and religion. He had a rare gift for connecting with students, using creativity, humor, and storytelling to make learning fun. His friendships with colleagues Henry Walker and Dee Dudley-Mayfield were among the many lasting bonds he formed there.

Robert met his wife, Andrea, through their shared love of music, and they married in 1987. Over nearly forty years together, they raised four children and built a family life they treasured. They shared a love of teaching, classic rock, science fiction, and dark comedy, and they enjoyed walking through Duke Forest or hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Robert’s guitar was always close by, and his family grew up with a full repertoire of silly songs, old gospel music, a stint in country and folk, and beautiful instrumentals. He delighted in giving his children classic rock quizzes, telling ghost stories, and engaging them in philosophical debates. Robert was the quintessential soccer dad and attended all of Austen’s, Chris’s, and later his son-in-law Tetsu’s soccer games. Meg and Reid fondly remember squishing pennies on train tracks, birdwatching, and frequent ice cream outings. He cherished time with each one of his children, celebrating their victories and supporting them through life’s challenges. He found immense joy in becoming a father-in-law to Katherine and Tetsu and adored his granddaughters, Lydia and Quinn.

Robert was kind, humble, polite, and steady, but also had a great sense of humor and sharp wit. He had an inexplicable fascination with Big Foot, and his family continues to debate whether he was a believer or skeptic. Parkinson’s disease took him well before he, his family, or his friends were ready, and no single recounting can adequately characterize the breadth or depth of this man’s impact on those who were lucky enough to know him. Robert leaves behind a legacy of creativity, curiosity, and love that will continue to ripple through the many lives he touched.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Claude Ehresmann Bittle and Camilla Rikert Bittle; his brother Claude Jr. Bittle; and his sister‑in‑law Amy Bittle. He is survived by his loving wife, Andrea Bittle; his children Austen Bittle, Chris Bittle (Katherine Martinez), Reid Bittle (Tetsuya Yoshinaga), and Meg Bittle; his granddaughters Lydia and Quinn Bittle; his sisters Betsy Eubanks (Joe Eubanks) and Rebecca Johns‑Danes (Jeff Danes); many nieces and nephews; and his two beloved cats, Casper and Fez.

A memorial gathering will be held from 2–4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 at The Old Murphy School, 3717 Murphy School Rd, Durham, NC 27705.

Robert’s music can be found on Spotify: bit.ly/Robert_Bittle_Music