Don Robins died unexpectedly in his home on February 16, 2024. He was 86. He was predeceased by his parents William (Bill) and Beatrice (Bea) Robins, and her brother, his Uncle David T. Berkman.
He is survived by his former spouse Jen-Kala Price, the mother of his 2 children, Berklee Robins, MD (Lake Oswego, OR) and Laura Robins (Fairport, NY), and his daughter-in law Lisa Neusihin (Lake Oswego, OR). He was the proud grandfather of Mariana Robins (Lake Oswego, OR) and great grandparent of Cody Robins Gould (Lake Oswego, OR). He is survived by his older sister Marjorie Soriano of Salem, MA, and his younger brother Edward Robins of Duluth, MN, several nieces and nephews, as well as many friends. He also leaves behind members of his “family by choice” including Lorraine Wolch, Nic Wildeman, Ellen Brothers and her children Abbey and Alex, and John and Marsha Bonnoitt, and his precious cat, Cinder.
Don was born in 1937 in the Bronx and his family later moved to Queens. He graduated from The High School of Music and Art, and then Queens College of the City University of NY with a degree in chemistry. He subsequently attended and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1956 with a master’s degree in chemistry. It was there that he met his former spouse, Jen-Kala Price (nee Bonnoitt). They moved to Rochester shortly thereafter, where he worked for Kordite (now Mobil Chemical). The family moved to Scotch Plains NJ where he worked for Esso (Exxon) and then Allied Chemical. In 1974 the family moved to Fairport, when he accepted a job at The Seal Bag Company, which was subsequently purchased by Surgicott. He was an owner/officer of Flexseal Packaging in Fairport and then the founder of The H. P. Puddy Corporation, d/b/a Lakeland Packaging in 1993. He sold Lakeland Packaging in 2013.
His retirement was spent working in the yard and garden of his Fairport home where he had lived since 1973. A proud progressive and philanthropist, he believed in and supported multiple organizations in the fight for racial and social justice, civil rights, the environment and ending racism and other hate and discrimination. He provided significant financial support to The School of The Holy Childhood, where his daughter has worked for over 30 years. His greatest love was Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Rochester, where he was a volunteer, (including reading to children, and working on telethons and other fundraising events), as well as a significant donor. He and his family have adopted multiple cats and a dog from Lollypop.
A private celebration of life will be held in April. Remembrances can be made to Lollypop Farm (CLICK HERE to donate online), The School of the Holy Childhood (CLICK HERE to donate online), or the Jewish Community Federation of Rochester (CLICK HERE to donate online).
