A Man Of Many Talents

R

aymond B. Robins, a much
beloved husband, father and
grandfather died peacefully on
Nov. 19, 2016.
Loyal, compassionate and curious,
Ray was a man of integrity. People were
drawn to him; he liked to hear their
stories and tell his own. In 2006, he
published a memoir titled My Stories,
a series of vignettes. His relatives and
loved ones frequently described him as
their “second dad” and “favorite uncle.”
He was deeply loved and will be missed
by his family and friends.
Ray was born Jan. 12, 1921, in
Detroit, to Louis and Ida Robins.
Growing up, he enjoyed the affections
of his three older sisters, Sally (Jaffe),
Marian (Lebowitz), and Sylvia (Goode).
He graduated from Detroit Central High
School, where he was the newspaper’s
news editor, Wayne State University and
the University of Michigan School of
Dentistry, where he earned his D.D.S. in
the summer of 1944.

After graduating, Ray opened his first Training Program. Accordingly, in
practice in Willow Run Village, a town
February of 1952, Ray went to the Far
founded to house workers
East to serve as a captain in
brought to the area to build
the Dental Corps of the U.S.
B-24 bombers during World
Army during the Korean War.
War II. His father hired an
He returned in April of 1953.
Italian artisan to paint Ray’s
Their son, James (Max), was
name in gold letters on his
born a year later.
first office door. Ray prac-
In 1976, Ray and Barbara
ticed dentistry in the Detroit
moved, initially part time, to
area for 40 years.
Santa Barbara, where they
Ray met Barbara, his wife
made many new friends and
and cherished partner, at the Raymond Robins
embraced the city’s business
annual convention of Alpha
and cultural life. A savvy
Omega, an international
negotiator, Ray enjoyed a
dental fraternity, which was
second career in commercial
held in Detroit in December of 1946.
real estate development with his late
They married in 1948. Their daughter,
partners, Marty Gilbar and Andy Dunn.
Nancy, was born the next year. Ray and Together the trio formed the Rametto
Barbara were married a remarkable 68
Company.
years. As a couple, they enjoyed a rare
Ray supported the Music Academy of
marital contentment and exuded love
the West, the Scholarship Foundation
and affection for each other.
of Santa Barbara, the Jewish Federation
While in dental school, Ray was
of Greater Santa Barbara, the Santa
drafted into the Army Specialized
Barbara Film Festival, where he was

an early board member, the Santa
Barbara Community College Library,
the Parkinson’s Association of Santa
Barbara, and UCSB Arts and Lectures.
He also took great joy in supporting
college students.
Ray was a sports enthusiast. He was
a lifelong Detroit Tigers and University
of Michigan fan. (Go Blue!) For many
decades, he played tennis with fellow
Santa Barbarans, who called themselves
the MUTS, which stood for municipal
unemployed tennis seniors. Until two
weeks before he died, he was a Pilates
devotee.
Ray was predeceased by his parents
and three sisters. He is survived by his
wife, Barbara; children, James (Max)
Robins and Nancy Robins; son-in-law
Scott Tevis; grandchildren Maria, Jack
and Grace Robins-Somerville, and Britt
Tevis; treasured house manager, Elida
Mata; and many nieces, nephews and
loving friends. Contributions may be
made to a charity of one’s choice.

*

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Obituaries November 24 • 2016

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