Samuel Davis Robins Jr.

SAMUEL DAVIS ROBINS JR, 84 of Peconic Landing, Greenport, N.Y., died of heart failure on September 9, 2010. Born in NYC on August 6, 1926 to S. Davis Robins and Emma L. Jacob, he graduated from Groton School, Groton, Mass. At 17, he joined the 20th Air Force serving in the Pacific. Mr. Robins and his brother, Joseph Busk Jr., founded Outdoor Traders in 1948. The store's final location was at 79 East Putnam Avenue, where the landmark remains today. O. T. evolved from a small, corner store that sold guns and fishing gear into a purveyor of men's and women's fashion, sportswear and sporting gear. "Country wear with a sporting flair" was the motto. There were branches in Essex and Litchfield, as well as, a mail order business. He raced sailboats in CT and Long Island. Three times he held the title of National Champion of the Celebrity sailboat class. He moved to Old Lyme in 1980, where he pursued interests in sculpture and watercolor painting. He served on the board of the Florence Griswold Museum and opened The Mile Creek Gallery. In 2002, he moved to Greenport, N.Y., where he devoted his time to painting landscapes. His paintings have been shown in many North fork galleries. He is survived by his children, S.Davis Robins III, Leah Robins Larsen and Abigail Schutz; four grandchildren; former wives, Anne Robins, Ruth Robins and companion, Mary Hooker Judson; and three brothers; and two sisters. He was predeceased by Frederick T Busk. A memorial service was held on October 2nd at Brecknock Hall in Greenport, NY. Contributions to The Groton School, PO Box 991, Groton, MA 01450, or Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or The Nature Conservancy, PO Box 5125, East Hampton, NY 11937.