Emma Hooton Robbins

Emma H. Robbins passed away peacefully on January 16, 2025 at the age of 100. She was the loving wife of Frederick J. Robbins who passed away in 2013.

Born on June 24, 1924, Emma was the daughter of Harvard anthropology professor Earnest A. Hooton and Mary (Camp) Hooton. She grew up on Buckingham Street in Cambridge and attended Buckingham School for girls (across the street from her home). Emma participated in theatre there and played the role of Portia in Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice”. 

After graduation from Smith College with degrees in art and physiology, Emma worked at the Harvard Coop, where she met her future husband Fred who was attending Harvard Law School. Following their marriage, Emma and Fred and their children, Mary and John moved to Concord where Emma assisted in the design and construction of the family house where the family has lived until the present day.

Emma was a kind and compassionate person who loved helping people and animals in need, including rescuing and finding homes for stray cats, and adopting homeless dogs from animal shelters. She devoted herself to taking care of her family and home, even building a fallout shelter in the basement in the 1960s during the Cold War. Working outdoors in her yard and athletics were of great enjoyment for Emma, who loved playing tennis and golf throughout her life.

A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Emma loved her family very much. She leaves her daughter Mary J. Robbins, her son John F. Robbins, his wife Donna Robbins, her granddaughter Virginia Robbins, and husband Derek Olson, all residents of Concord.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:00 am in the Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord. Burial will follow in the family plot in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to
Buddy Dog Humane Society
151 Boston Post Road
Sudbury, MA 01776
www.buddydoghs.org
or
MSPCA-Angell
293 2nd Ave.
Waltham, MA 02451
https://www.mspca.org/medical-centers/mspca-angell-west-waltham/

Arrangements are under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742  978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com