The Stegner Family Foundation

In his youth, Dr. Robert Stegner helped his father at J.H. Stegner & Sons Bakery. Later, he was a Western Union Boy, delivering telegrams by bicycle at .35 cents an hour in Honesdale. In his formative years, much like his sisters, he pursued music by taking up trumpet, and with his neighbors and friends, formed a local band. They played throughout Wayne County, as summer boarders enjoyed dancing – especially square dancing. 

After high school graduation, Dr. Stegner enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was trained as a B-29 mechanic, which took him all the way to Okinawa, Japan. He was honorably discharged as Sergeant in 1947, and entered St. Bonaventure College in New York State, followed by Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. Dr. Stegner opened his office at 617 Main Street, Honesdale, in a building once owned by his grandfather, where he practiced for over 40 years.

Music was a important pastime in the Stegners' lives. The Stegner twins, Joan and Janet, played trumpet duets at nearly every musical occasion in Honesdale, even representing Honesdale High School at the Pennsylvania All State Band competition in 1949. Both sisters were accepted by audition to the renowned Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, majoring in piano and trumpet, and were members of Sigma Alpha Iota, the national honorary fraternity of professional musicians. 

A particular delight was to see Joan and Janet, in matching outfits, riding their tandem two-seat bicycle around town, waving to all. Later in life, the twins continued the tradition of music lessons for the community within the homestead. The immediate family also sang in Saint Mary’s Catholic Church choir for many years under the direction of the family matriarch and organist, Leila A. Hessling Stegner.