Obituary of Lavius A. Robinson, Jr., MD

Lavius Arad Robinson, Jr., MD, 82, of South Killingly, CT died Friday, October 30, 2009. He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie Alice (Dyson) Robinson (Click for her obituary) http://smithandwalkerfh.com/?p=obituary_view&id=59775 for whom he provided complete care during her extended illness, with the immeasurable help of her sister, Priscilla Dyson. The son of the late Lavius and Mildred (Thayer) Robinson, he was born in Willimantic on May 11, 1927 and raised by his grandparents on the family farm in Franklin, CT. He received his high school diploma from Putnam High School in absentia while serving in the U.S. Navy. He was awarded a B.A. with distinction in Zoology from UCONN. His medical degree was conferred in 1954 at Tufts University Medical School in Boston, MA. He married Marjorie in 1954 and adopted Killingly as his home town. Discharged from the Naval Reserve in 1954, he completed his internship and residency at Hartford Hospital. Known by many as "Dr. Robbie", he managed his 43-year solo practice of Family Medicine in Danielson, CT from 1956 to 1999. He is survived by his children and his grandchildren: Donald Woods and Jane O'Leary and his son Robert of Alabama, Faith Robinson and Christopher Cape, her son Eduardo Cabrera of New Jersey; Mark Robinson, MD and Karen and their sons Samuel and Benjamin of North Carolina; Jane and Robert Milne, their son Ian and daughter Alyssa of West Hartford; Joyce and Bruno Jugovic, their sons Daniel and Nicholas of Massachusetts. He is survived by Jane (Hyde) Russ who he loved as a sister and who cared for he and Marjorie in countless ways. His sister, Virginia, predeceased him. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and a few great great nieces and great great nephews. Lavius was an active member of many genealogical and historical societies. He was an 11th generation descendant from Reverend John Robinson, The Pilgrim Pastor. He was a family historian and was particularly proud of the Robinson Manning Family Reunion Association which organizes an annual observance in Lebanon, CT. This past August was the 125th reunion making it one of the oldest family gatherings in the country. He was a charter member of the American Board of Family Practice. During his medical career, he served as an attending physician, Chief of Medicine and Chief of Staff at Day Kimball Hospital. He was instrumental in developing the first Intensive Care Unit at DKH which he initially chaired. He cared for patients in the hospital, nursing home, his private office and made innumerable home visits. His practice encompassed all the very best of personalized family medicine. Dr. Robbie acted as Killingly School physician for 37 years. He was always on the sidelines, both home and away, with the KHS Football team and the Big Red Marching Band. In 1990, he was recognized by the National Football Association as Man of the Year. Always community minded, he received numerous awards including Killingly Civic Achievement Award, the Outstanding Citizen Award and the Killingly Community Award for Killingly Intermediate School Building Committee Chairmanship. He continued his service to the Killingly Public Schools as a member of the Board of Education. He was enthusiastic about his re-election bid this November and would have wanted a committed individual to continue in his place. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation in his name to the Killingly High School Library Book Fund established for Lavius and Marjorie ATTN: Christine Clarke, 369 Main Street, Danielson, CT 06239. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 7:00PM at the Killingly Intermediate School, 1599 Upper Maple Street, Dayville, CT. Committal will be private. Smith & Walker Funeral Home of Putnam, CT is handling the arrangements. To share a memory with his family, "Light a Candle": at www.smithandwalkerfh.com