Volunteer/Veteran Spotlight -
Captain Robert J. Weaver

Veteran, author, family man, and CASA, Bob Weaver served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard for over 27 years. Originally from Rochester, NY, his career both afloat and ashore resulted in assignments throughout the United States. He has also traveled extensively to Europe and Japan in support of Coast Guard Operations. Bob and his wife of 56 years, Barbara, have lived in New York City (twice), Michigan, Maryland, Romulus, NY, New Jersey, Virginia (twice) and California.

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Upon retirement from the Coast Guard, he assumed the duties of Vice President for Vessel Operations and Student affairs, as well as Commandant of Cadets at NY Maritime College, where he was responsible for leadership training and development. Having officially retired in 2012, he settled in Atlantic County and has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the past 11 years. Proud father of three children, grandfather of ten, and now great-grandfather to two, Bob has always loved having a close connection with children.

 

Not long after his arrival in Atlantic County, Bob was driving down the road and saw the sign in front of the CASA office.  He was familiar with CASA, as a friend volunteered in northern Virginia.  After seeing the sign, he was motivated to pursue the opportunity, as he felt he needed to stay engaged during retirement with something of true value. Bob has served children in our community not only as an advocate, but in the role of Peer Coach, a seasoned advocate who coaches and supports other volunteers in their advocacy work for children. More than a decade later, he worked on three cases of his own with six children and as a Peer Coach overseeing 40 advocates with 116 children. He gives a lot of credit to advocates for their commitment to children. While he acknowledges there can be tough days, he feels it is the commitment that overrides everything. Bob shared, “Staying focused on the children will provide you with the inspiration to keep going through difficult times.”  He shares, “We don’t control the outcome, we’re not the decision makers…so it’s the small things that make a difference. As I reflect on all the cases I’ve been involved with, it’s always the little things…when I went home at night, I could smile and say yes, this was a worthwhile day!”

 

As commandant of cadets at the military training academy, Bob oversaw the leadership program. He did lectures on leadership and developed the program over time. In addition, while raising his family, there were always rules.  Born out of his time teaching his children about life and his time in the military teaching cadets about leadership, “the rules” came about. Over the years, the grandchildren started coming along and his oldest grandson became familiar with “the rules". When asked what he wanted for his upcoming high school graduation gift, Bob’s grandson, who was going into the ROTC program, requested a written copy of the rules. Bob put pen to paper and eventually self-published “Wisdom, Leadership, and Weaver’s 21 Special Rules of Life”.  Bob’s 21 rules were developed over decades of experience in his pursuit of being an effective, moral leader.

 

When Bob speaks with those who are considering becoming a CASA, he tells them, “What you have to do is work at making a difference. It can be difficult along the way; there’s frustration, there’s things you don’t agree with, but you are in fact making a difference in a child’s life. When you talk to them later down the road, they’ll remember the little stuff you thought was insignificant, but nothing you do is insignificant.”