Robin Ward Savage

1937 - 2023

Robin Ward Savage

November 25, 1937 - December 2, 2023

State College, Pennsylvania - Robin Ward Savage passed away back in December of 2023 having celebrated her 86th birthday that November. She was the mother of a son, Mark McNeer Savage and a daughter Kelly Robin Gansarski, plus the proud grandmother of Chloe Belle, and Shelby Ann Gansarski.

Born Robin Kendall Ward on Thanksgiving, November 25, 1937, in New York City, she was the youngest child of May McNeer, a writer and Lynd Ward, an artist. Along with her older sister Nanda, Robin grew up in Leonia, N.J. She graduated from Penn State in 1959 with a degree in journalism and afterward worked in New York in book publishing. Robin then moved to California where she met Michael T. Savage and after a whirlwind courtship, they were married on April 4, 1966 in San Luis Obispo. Later, Mike took a job working for the federal government, and they moved to Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C.

Robin studied graphic design and worked in that field before transitioning to the rough and tumble world of D.C. area real estate becoming a highly successful agent for 17 years. She bled Blue and White and never missed a football game, even if that meant listening by radio. For over 15 years, Robin and Mike were co-chairs of the Penn State Alumni Association Recruiters in the Northern Virginia chapter.

Some of Robin's favorite memories were made during annual vacations at her family's lake property in Ontario, Canada, She spent many summers with her husband, children, grandchildren, and other family laughing on their dock. Robin also had excellent architectural skills and designed not only her family's cabin in Canada but also their house in Virginia. Additionally, she had a lifelong love of acting. Robin had appeared in numerous high school plays, was involved with a theater group in Virginia, and even appeared in an independent feature film!

After Robin and Mike retired, they moved to Centre County in 2004 having built a retirement home in Black Moshannon state park which Robin had designed. She was a member of the PSU Libraries Development Board and donated the remaining material of her father's, where it is a part of their Special Collections. Robin and Mike took advantage of their new proximity by buying season football tickets and also became big fans of Women's Volleyball. They were members of both the Quarterback Club at Penn State and the Women's Volleyball Booster Club.

Following 11 happy years in Black Moshannon the couple moved to the Village at Penn State. Sadly, Mike passed away not long afterward in February of 2016. Robin continued to live at the Village where she made many friends, enjoyed going to dinner and playing bridge, plus attending history lectures. Fall was the busiest time of year and she would still attend volleyball and football games plus Library functions, all the way through her final year.

A Celebration of Life was held on the Penn State campus in 2025 on a beautiful Fall day, where friends and family honored Robin. It was a most fitting tribute in a place that she loved so very much.

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