Terri Schiavo's father Robert Schindler, who led right-to-life fight, dies at 71

AUGUST 29, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG — Robert S. Schindler Sr., the father of Terri Schiavo, died Saturday (Aug. 29, 2009) at Northside Hospital of heart failure. He was 71.

Mr. Schindler became a national figure in the right-to-life movement when he and his wife, Mary, fought for more than a decade to keep their daughter alive with the help of a feeding tube. Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo, tried to have the feeding tube removed, saying it was Terri Schiavo's wish.

The case bounced from state court to appellate court and drew attention worldwide. The Florida Legislature and Congress attempted to circumvent the decisions of the court system. Ultimately, federal judges and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn the rulings of the state court, and Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on March 18, 2005. She died 13 days later.

"After Terri's death, my father was never the same," son Bobby Schindler said Saturday though a spokesman. (story here)

Posted by Alex Leary at 10:03:16 pm on August 29, 2009 | Permalink | Comments |

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