Obituary of Norma Robbins

Norma Robbins of Pomfret Center passed away on Saturday March 20, 2010 with her family members at her bedside. She was 92 years young. She will be remembered as a loving mother, professional nurse, eternal optimist and a local legacy in Pomfret where she resided for more than 62 years. Born Norma Muriel Moore on May 6, 1917 at her home on South Main Street in Brooklyn, Connecticut, she was the daughter of a well known local businessman Franklyn Moore of Woodstock and Lillian House of Canterbury. Norma grew up a tomboy riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle furnished by her dad who operated northeastern Connecticut's only Harley, Indian, and Henderson dealership. As a child she loved touring the northeast and Canada in a sidecar before graduating to her own cycle. Summers were spent at the family's beach home on the Salt Pond at Charleston RI. Graduating from Killingly High School's class of 1934 Norma enrolled and later graduated from Joseph Lawrence School of Nursing in New London. She did post-graduate work at New York University. Norma's involvement in the nursing profession spanned more than forty years, beginning at Mitchell Isolation Hospital (now Mitchell College) in New London. This was followed by a supervisory position at the Veterans Hospital in Rocky Hill. At the beginning of WWII, she was Head Nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, New London, where she met her first husband, William Taylor. Following the war, Norma divorced and returned to the Veteran's Hospital. There she met and married a sailor, James Edward Robbins, of Middletown. Later, Norma was Director of Nurses at Pine Rest Convalescent Hospital in Putnam. During the 1960's and early 70's Norma was the School Nurse at The Pomfret School, in her beloved home town. This was where she developed the love for caring for students that became such a large part of her life after her retirement from nursing. After leaving Pomfret School, she became a Public Health Nurse with the Connecticut State Health Department in Hartford, where she was assigned to clinics at Day Kimball Hospital, Backus Hospital, Windham Memorial Hospital, Hartford Hospital and the Cardiac Clinic at Yale New Haven Hospital. Norma finished her career as Director of Nurses at Norcliff Convalescent Home in Brooklyn, Connecticut. Norma is well known for her involvement in local politics and service organizations. She served on the Pomfret Democratic Town Committee (Vice Chairman for many years), was elected to the Board of Finance and Inland Wetlands Commission, and served as a Justice of the Peace. She was Pomfret Registrar of Voters for nearly two decades, retiring at the age of eighty-six in 2004. In 1996, she was awarded the Democracy in Action Award by the Connecticut General Assembly. On May 2, 2004, the Connecticut General Assembly dedicated a day in her honor marked by a special event attended by numerous family and friends. For twenty years, following the death of her second husband, James Robbins Sr. in 1975, Norma opened her home to foreign students attending Anhurst College in Woodstock and to young adults in need of a home life and support from a loving environment. She became a mother and confidant to many as they made their way in the world shaping the character of young people in Pomfret and other communities. A life long Boston Red Sox, Celtics, and UConn Huskies fan, Norma spent many afternoons and evenings enthusiastically cheering her teams. In her younger years she attended Red Sox games with her husband, James, and her sons making her last trip to Fenway in 1996. She often had friends to her home to watch the games sharing an endless supply of popcorn. Norma was seemingly born to serve others in her chosen profession, in her service to the town of Pomfret, and in her dealings with her many friends. Given the title of "mama-san" by some of her adopted children, Norma will be missed by her family and the community which she served for a lifetime filled with laughter and warm smiles. She is survived by her sons Franklyn Thomas Taylor of Harrington, Maine and James Edward Robbins Jr. and his wife Nora of Pomfret Center. Her grandchildren are Kristin Taylor Costello of Rocklin, California and Jonathan Allen Taylor of Killingly. A memorial service to celebrate Norma's life will be held on Saturday, April 3rd at 3:00pm at Tyrone Farm, 89 Tyrone Road, Pomfret. Smith and Walker Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. To share a memory with her family, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com