Barnaby John Roberts
OBITUARY
Barnaby John Roberts of Bethlehem, PA passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, at the age of 84. He was born in England in 1942, where he spent his childhood with his parents, Douglas and Winifred, and two brothers, Nicholas and Henry. He received his undergraduate education at Cambridge University and a graduate degree from Oxford University. Barnaby met his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth “Betsy” Mathewson, in England when he arrived at her apartment to take her roommate out for a date, but fell in love with Betsy at first sight. The two were married in Richmond, VA in 1968. Barnaby was a career educator. After immigrating to the U.S., he accepted a teaching position at St. Christopher’s in Alexandria, VA, and later became Assistant Headmaster of St. Stephen’s School. In 1982, he accepted his first Head of School role at Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia. In 1990, he and his family moved to Oklahoma City, where he accepted a position at Casady School. In 1999, he returned to PA, where he became Headmaster at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem. He and Betsy had planned to stay a few years at Moravian Academy before moving to a final school, but they treasured the area, the community, and the school so much that they stayed until Barnaby’s retirement in 2007. He and Betsy spent several years of their retirement living in the Northern Neck of Virginia, where Barnaby was able to enjoy his other passions: bird watching, fishing, reading, and taking long walks with Betsy and the family dog, Sturgeon. He made it a point to know his students’ names, what was going on in their lives, and was invested in their academic successes even after they had graduated. He could always be found after school and on weekends watching school sports or attending other events. His notorious disdain for meetings did not extend to his students, who he always made time to offer counsel and advice when needed. He also took pride in the educational accomplishments of his children and grandchild. Barnaby’s kindness, his inspirational dedication to education, his laugh, and even his stubbornness will be missed by everyone who had the honor of knowing him.
SURVIVORS: Barnaby is survived by his daughter Arianne Roberts and her wife Sara, daughter Amanda Davis and her husband Cliff, his grandson Adrian Davis, and brother Henry Roberts. He was preceded in death by his wife Betsy in 2024.
SERVICES: A Memorial Service will be held at Moravian Academy’s Dyer Auditorium, which is located inside Walter Hall at Moravian Academy’s Merle-Smith Campus, situated at 4313 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020, on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm. Barnaby’s services have been entrusted to Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, Bethlehem. A memory tribute may be placed at www.cantelmifuneralhome.com.
CONTRIBUTIONS: In lieu of flowers, the family are asking people to donate to the Barnaby Roberts Fund at Moravian Academy, 7 East Market Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018.