The Rev. Robert Bryan Lantz was a Lutheran minister and an Association of Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor. After receiving his certificate in Patient Counseling from the Medical College of Virginia in 1964, the Rev. Lantz accepted a position as chairman of the Chaplain’s Department for the Baltimore City Hospitals.

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In subsequent years, he directed programs at the Memphis Institute of Medicine and Religion and taught pastoral counseling at St. Paul’s College in Washington, D.C., Memphis Theological Seminary, and the University of Tennessee Medical Units School. In 1973, he founded the Maryland Institute of Pastoral Counseling.

The Rev. Lantz found his Medical College of Virginia residency to be the richest educational experience of his life, forming the foundation of his professional career. It was during his residency; he fell in love with the Rappahannock River in the early 1970’s when he began coming here in his boat. From 1971 to July of 2008, when he died, he spent as much of each summer as he could boating in this area.

The Rev. Lantz was a person who related equally well to all kinds of people, all ages, socio-economic or educational levels. He was a great listener and people loved to tell him their stories. 

He worked incredibly hard, studied economics, invested wisely and was very successful. It was his wish to help the next generation in the way that his background as minister, counselor, and educator led him to believe was best. His thinking was that anything that elevated wellness and skills of the clergy and health professionals of the Northern Neck would help the people, and that is the goal of the Foundation.

It was his vision to provide educational opportunities and support to clergy and medical professionals located on the Northern Neck of Virginia.