W Claude Robbins
ROBBINS W Claude Passed peacefully away on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at the age of 89 years at the Health Sciences Centre surrounded by loving family. Leaving with individual memories wife Bernice (nee Kean), sons Paul (Ros) and David (Kim), and five grandchildren who were the joys of his life: Allison (Robert), Nicole (Jordan) and their devoted mother Nancie (Dan), Daniel, Liam (Kristen) and Kelly and their wide circle of friends. Also leaving to mourn siblings Kay, Ernest, Lorne and their families, extended family and friends in Lumsden, Trinity Bay, Truro and Ontario, and caring friends of Windermere Condominium. Born in Lumsden as the eldest son of Edna and Alfred Robbins (deceased), Claude valued education and community service, and received education from Lumsden North, Memorial University (B.A. and B.A. Ed) and Boston University (Ed.M). His illustrious teaching career included positions at the two-room school in Lumsden, Macpherson Academy, Curtis Academy, and Princes of Wales Collegiate. Claude served as Supervisor with the former United Church School Board, Assistant Superintendent with the Avalon Consolidated School Board, and president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association (NLTA), retiring from Education in 1986. Claude was a devoted and active member of the Gower Street United Church serving on numerous boards, devoted member of the Men’s club, and a lifelong supporter of the Gower Community Band. He continued on in private business, operating Beltone Hearing Service from 1986-1994. Claude was an active community member and served on numerous boards and associations including the Canadian College of Teachers, the NL Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases Association, the Provincial and National Committee of the United Church, and the Canadian Mental Health Association, and received a silver medal in 1977 in recognition of his many contributions to his community. The family gratefully appreciates the care given to Claude and our family by Dr. Vidyasankar, Dr. Carrie and the nursing staff of 5 North A. Thank you to Dr. Seviour, family physician, and Dr Connors, Rodolfo Pike, Angela Barrett and associates at the heart clinic. Special thanks to personal caregivers from Bayshore, especially Onyeka Mabu (Kingsley). Thank you to Gower Street United Church, Reverends Pam, Ettie and David Guzzwell. Thank you to Barrett’s Funeral Home and a special thank you to lifelong family friend Dr. Steve Howells for his love and concern. Claude loved life, spending time with family and friends, Sunday family dinners, poetry, music, seafood, and beating his grandchildren in crib. He loved to reminisce and greatly appreciated the interest his grandchildren showed in his stories. Following provincial health guidelines there will be no visitation. A celebration of life and service of remembrance will take place at a later date. Private family internment to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations gratefully accepted in Claude’s name to Gower Street United Church and the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association (youth addictions program). To view the online guestbook or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.barretts.ca Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.