Robin Slane

04/04/1968 - 09/08/2023

Waterford - Robin Slane of Waterford, died Sept. 8, 2023, in a car accident in Derby. She was 55. Born April 4, 1968, in Queens, N.Y., to Margarethe and Robert B. Slane, Robin grew up in East Northport on Long Island's northern shore.

A 1986 graduate of East Northport High School, she went on to earn her B.A. in English from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1990, followed by her M.A. in English literature from Hofstra University in 1993. She initially worked as a researcher, assisting in background investigations for human resources, before considering a career in education.

In 1991, she met the love of her life, Thomas Tolppi, and the two were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in East Northport, N.Y., July 30, 1994. Together, they settled in Waterford, where Robin found her true passion in special education through a series of substitute teaching positions. In 1998, she completed her M.S. in special education from Southern Connecticut State University, and with that, her unrelenting commitment to empowering children to read began. The next six years would find Robin teaching students in elementary schools in Putnam, and in East Lyme, during which time Robin and Tom welcomed their first child, Robert Tolppi, in 2000, followed by their second child, Sabrina Tolppi, in 2004. A lifelong learner with a creative spirit and curious mind, Robin took great joy in being a mother, stepping back from teaching for four years to raise their children - a precious time she often called, "the best years of her life." Inspired by a book on things to do with kids in Connecticut, Robin ensured that the family went on multiple mini adventures, including seeing every museum in the state, exploring various parks, and taking advantage of all the diverse opportunities for her children to learn and grow. Family meant everything to Robin, and she loved seeing the world through her children's eyes.

In 2008, Robin returned to the elementary school classroom, this time in Connecticut's Montville School District, where she would spend the next 15 years opening new worlds for challenged readers and changing children's lives as a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. She believed strongly that every child can learn to read, and children always made progress under her exceptional tutelage. Additionally, she fought for the best in dyslexia instruction and training statewide and on a national scale. Robin retired in June 2023 from Montville and had just started to bring her Wilson reading expertise and passion for special education to Sacred Heart School in Groton.

Outside of teaching, Robin was a staunch advocate for the environment, regularly modeling the importance of recycling, composting, and energy-conscious living. A member of the Sierra Club for more than two decades, Robin also encouraged buying locally and grew her own produce in her expansive garden - the bounty from which she routinely shared with family, friends and the community. Moreover, with her servant heart, she regularly helped those in need, including making special toiletry packs for the homeless. Strong in her faith, Robin was also an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Norwich, for nearly 30 years.

A firm believer that experiences are better than things, Robin enjoyed camping, sewing, knitting, entertaining, walking, reading and creating special moments for others. She particularly liked Halloween and was known for designing several eye-catching "Trick or Trunk" scenes for children and families in the Montville schools. She also adored animals, having adopted several pets, looked forward to cross-country skiing each year and liked traveling abroad with her family, especially to Europe.

Robin is survived by her husband of 29 years, Tom Tolppi, and their children, Robert and Sabrina, all of Waterford; father Robert B. Slane of Northport, N.Y.; brother Bruce Slane (Sandra) of White Plains, N.Y.; brother Emil Slane (Jennifer) of Albany, N.Y. and their children, Makayla, Kelsey, and Calista; aunt Connie Kayson; uncle Ralph Slane; and cousins, Tammy Kayson-Rodriquez and Heather Hubeny. In addition, Robin leaves behind three cherished pets, her dog Molly, whom she loved walking, and her two cats, Otis and Bree. Her mother Margarethe Slane predeceased her.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 248 Broadway, Norwich. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the following charitable organizations that were close to Robin's heart: For the soul, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Norwich - For creatures great and small, Connecticut Humane Society - For the politically engaged, Sierra Club - For the earth, Nature Conservancy - For the hungry, St. Vincent De Paul in Norwich.