Word has been received here of the death of Winifred Anne Robins, a longtime summer resident of Amagansett, who died at home in Stonington, Conn., surrounded by her family, on Dec. 23, 2019. She was 94 years old and had been in declining health for a short time.
Mrs. Robins, who had a penchant for organization, detail, and design, shared her talents at a sportfishing and gun store called Outdoor Traders in Greenwich, Conn., of which her husband, Samuel Davis Robins Jr., was a founding partner. "The store was a cornerstone of Greenwich and a great source of pride for the couple, who raised three children while growing and transforming the business," her family wrote.
Born in Yonkers on Sept. 15, 1925, Winifred Anne Willis, known to some as Winnie and others as Anne, was the youngest child of Robert E. Willis and Marion Blandy Cope. In her youth she spent summers in Stonington and in Camden, Me., and moved to Greenwich in 1939. She graduated from Greenwich Academy and from Pine Manor Junior College, where she served as an air raid warden during World War II.
She later worked for an architectural firm in Greenwich and joined the Greenwich Rifle Club, eventually becoming a managing member. In 1948, she met Mr. Robins, who was a newcomer to the group. They married in June 1950 and settled in Greenwich.
Mrs. Robins loved gardening. At the time of her death, she was the longest-standing member of the Hortulus Garden Club of America, having joined in 1955. She was also a member of the Greenwich Garden Club, and its treasurer for five years.
In 1956, the Robins family began spending summers in Amagansett. Terry Scheffer, the wife of Alfred Scheffer, the well-known architect, showed the cottage that was to become their summer home, and the Robins and Scheffer families, who lived two doors apart, became good friends. "Anne enjoyed picking beach plums and cranberries from the bog that once flourished on the property, to make jams and jellies," her family wrote. "Her time spent in this beautiful spot fed the naturalist in her; she had a passion for sharing it, preserving it, and teaching it."
She was often found weeding Amagansett Village Improvement Society trees along Montauk Highway or tending to commemorative plants if she saw they were wilting. She was also a fervent recycler.
"Her deep love and respect for this place compelled her to do everything she could, including spending hours picking up litter along the highway," said the family.
Mrs. Robins was a longtime member of the Devon Yacht Club. She had many local friends whose company she cherished, some for 63 years.
In 1979, after a divorce, Mrs. Robins started a new life in Stonington. She was a member of the Friends of the nearby Mystic Aquarium for more than 25 years.
"Her many passions, and her commitment to staying connected to her friends and family, kept her current and vital throughout her life," her family wrote. "She had a quick wit and a sharp mind, with a memory more accurate than people half her age. Anne was a loyal friend and devoted mother who could be counted on for the best advice in any situation."
Mrs. Robins leaves three children. They are Samuel Davis Robins III of East Hampton, Abigail Schutz of Amagansett, and Leah Robins of Watertown, Mass. She also leaves four grandchildren. Two brothers, Robert E. Willis Jr. and James M. Willis, died before her.
Her family plans gatherings in Amagansett, Stonington, and in Maine to celebrate her life after the pandemic is over.
"In lieu of flowers, please perform an act of kindness for a friend or stranger," they wrote. Memorial donations have also been suggested, to some of Mrs. Robins's favorite organizations, A.V.I.S. (keepamagansettbeautiful.com), the Parrish Art Museum (parrishart.org), or the Peconic Land Trust (peconiclandtrust.org).
