Bobby Schindler, brother of Terri Schiavo and Co-Executive Director of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network, speaking at the 2012 Bringing America Back to Life Symposium on: “End of Life Care in the Age of Health Care Reform.” Bobby and the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network work to protect the lives of the medically vulnerable and disabled from the threat of euthanasia.
Click here to listen to Bobby Schindler.
The only son of Bob and Mary Schindler, Bobby was born and raised just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his sisters, Terri and Suzanne. After his graduation from LaSalle University with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing, Bobby went on to obtain a degree in meteorology from Florida State University.
Bobby’s life took a dramatic and unexpected turn in February of 1990 when his older sister, Terri, suddenly collapsed and was left with a profound cognitive disability. When Terri’s estranged husband sought court permission to starve and dehydrate her to death, Bobby was suddenly propelled into a life he’d never imagined. He spoke in defense of his sister’s life on numerous national television and radio programs including Hannity & Colmes, Larry King Live, the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Glenn Beck Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, Dateline NBC, the 700 Club, EWTN and many others.
Following Terri’s tragic death on March 31, 2005, Bobby gave up his teaching job at Tampa Catholic High School and became a full-time pro-life and disability rights advocate. Today, Bobby through the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network assists families in need of legal action to prevent their loved ones from health care rationing and food and water removal. Terri’s Life & Hope Network has provided resources and support to over 1000 families and has been involved in hundreds of cases helping to protect persons who were in or potentially facing life-threatening situations.
He has spoken extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally, having spoken in 44 states, at 29 universities, colleges, and medical schools and in 9 countries abroad which includes addressing giving a firsthand account about Terri’s story which was largely misrepresented by the mainstream media. Bobby talks about the effects this case has had across America and about the tens of thousands of individuals living like Terri today.
Bobby has also been asked to testify before state legislatures in Florida, Louisiana, California and Kentucky, and has addressed Members of Parliament in Canada and Australia concerning the protection of the medically vulnerable. He and his family have also authored the book A Life That Matters (2006), regarding their decade long struggle to care for his sister Terri. Bobby also co-hosted on America’s Lifeline, a weekly radio program that covered such topics as euthanasia, futile care and assisted suicide.
The Schindler family continues to advocate for persons with disabilities and works tirelessly to put an end to the growing pro-death mentality that is plaguing our nation.
