The term “world traveler” must have been coined for Ted Robbins. Between business trips and adventure/pleasure voyages, Ted (and sometimes Linda) circled the globe twice, visited Europe regularly, toured the outbacks of China and Australia, and set foot in Tibet, Machu Picchu, Tanzania, and Antarctica. They sailed their 50-foot ketch Maine Lady from Newport, R.I., to Alesund, Norway, on a five-year odyssey, cruising the Baltic and Mediterranean for nine months and returning by air to winter at home in Massachusetts, the one exception being the final leg when they sailed back across the Atlantic to spend two winters in the Caribbean. Ted had been bitten by the sailing bug at summer camp on Cape Cod, and made his first Atlantic crossing, appropriately, in 1959.
Born in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Ted was the son of Edward C. Robbins 1922 and kin to 1919 and 1926. He prepped at Exeter and played soccer there. At Princeton he ate at Colonial and majored in history. Following graduation, he earned an MBA from Wharton, fully preparing him, as he said, for his first job as an Army E-1. Seeking greener pastures he joined a company in Worcester, Mass., finding his niche in sales. Then followed treasurer positions with two other companies and ultimately VP for operations with Washington Mills Group.
Ted died Oct. 15, 2021. Surviving are his wife, Linda Baily Robbins (her father was in the Class of 1926) and their three children, Ginny, Elliott ’87, and Teddy. We have sent condolences.
Undergraduate Class of 1959
