David Page Robbins February 14, 1940 - September 25, 2018

Dave Robbins in the 1960s

A few days ago, I was explaining to someone how I became a member of the Sigma Chi social fraternity.  When I left my home to attend the University of Rochester, I wasn't certain that I wanted to join a fraternity.  My brother Bill had been a member of the Chi Psi fraternity at the University of Michigan, but there wasn't a Chi Psi chapter at Rochester. My father had been a member of Delta Sigma Delta at Michigan, but that was a dental society. Thus, there was no legacy tradition that would motivate me to become a member.

I had looked through a list of fraternities at Rochester, and could relate to three of them. Our good friends, the Gardners, had two sons at Rochester who were members of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.  My father's insurance broker, Chick Heckenburg, had been a Psi Upsilon brother. My "Aunt" Betty's late husband, "Uncle" Ned (Edward McGrew) had been a Sigma Chi at Northwestern.  I decided I'd visit these houses during the Fall rush period and see if the idea of fraternity membership might interest me.  I don't think I realized until I had arrived on campus that one of my sister's high school friends, Dave Robbins, was attending Rochester and had become a brother in the Sigma Chi house.

When rush week rolled around, I visited these and several other houses.  The group that I seemed to "connect" with was the Sigme Chi brotherhood. I decided I'd go back for a second visit if I was invited.  Shortly thereafter, I read something in the Campus Times that dampened that idea. It seems that the Sigma Chi national consitution had a "White Clause" stating that only white males were eligible for membership. That ran directly counter to my personal culture and belief framework. I prided myself on my non-racist attitudes.  I then decided that even if I were invited to the Sig house, I wouldn't respond. I could navigate four years at Rochester perfectly well without a fraternity.

I received an invitation to return to the Sigma Chi house for a follow-up Rush Smoker (Doesn't that term sound archaic?). I ignored it. The next day, I received a phone call from Dave Robbins, asking if we could meet to discuss Sigma Chi.  I explained my reason for ignoring their invitation.  He was persistent and we met for coffee at the student union.

Dave presented it this way. He, too found the white clause to be abhorrent. There was a "Grand Chapter" coming up the next summer at which he was quite sure it would be removed.  There were several undergraduate chapters, including the Rochester chapter, that had been informed by their host universities that the clause must be removed by a specified deadline or they could no longer be recognized by the institutions. You could do a whole lot more to bring about change from within an organization than from the outside.  Would I please reconsider?

Dave, in his extremely low-key approach, had changed my view. I subsequently pledged and was initiated into Sigma Chi. The white clause was removed the next summer. Our chapter survived. I eventually served my chapter as its Social Chairman, Pro-Consul (Vice-President), and Consul (President). The brotherhood and its principles have been a most powerful and meaningful influence in my life.  I have never regretted my decision to become a brother.

Today, the fraternity is a remarkably inclusive organization, celebrating its diversity. In 1995, Sigma Chi adopted its Statement of Policy on Human Decency and Dignity. Sigma Chi’s Executive Committee approved the formation of a Diversity and Inclusion Commission.  When the Commission was formed, the international Grand Consul stated, "The commission is charged, foremost, with listening. They will listen to anyone who wants to speak. All opinions, thoughts, perspectives and recommendations are encouraged and needed. They will be responsible for organizing the thoughts of the collective and distilling those thoughts into a series of recommendations to be brought forward to the Executive Committee. Recognizing the urgency of this work and the importance of tackling the subject of diversity and inclusion in our Fraternity,"

Dave Robbins was right.  I owe him a debt of gratitude for his wise counsel.  Unfortunately, I recently learned of his passing.  His obituary speaks volumes about his character.  All Honor to His Name!

Obituary for David Page Robbins:

David P. Robbins, 78, of Fredericksburg, passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018.

David was born in Schenectady, New York. He spent his school years there and his summers in York Beach, Maine. In 1961, he graduated from the University of Rochester with his fiancée, Martha Lightbown. They were married later that year. David served in the US Army Reserve 1962-68. In 1965, he graduated from UC Riverside and returned to the east coast. He and Martha raised their two daughters in New Hampshire and later retired to Virginia.

David was a lifelong learner. He was a passionate public educator (US history and geography) at New York and New Hampshire schools for many years. A cheerful, friendly man who was full of wit, he loved talking with and learning about others. He treated everyone with equal respect and interest, touching the hearts of all who met him. He was deeply committed to helping the overlooked and the underprivileged. David was exceptionally musical: he sang, played the piano, listened to music all day long, and collected vintage sheet music. His other special interests included baseball, maps, current events, statistics, and religion. He was a lifelong Christian—a Presbyterian as a child, an Episcopalian as a young adult, and then a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served as a pianist, teacher, and leader for almost 40 years.

Above all, David adored his family. He delighted in his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchild and spent many hours communicating with treasured extended family. He kept a journal, wrote his personal history for his posterity, researched family history, and covered his walls with family trees and pictures of his ancestors and descendants.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 57 years, Martha; children, Beth Austin (Gary) and Meg Andrew (Bruce); grandchildren, Michael (Rachel), Sarah, Becca, and Daniel Austin and Wil, Amy, Henry, and Martin Desposorio; great-grandson, Clive Austin; brother, Doug Robbins; nephew, Joseph Robbins; niece, Deborah Speckhard (Jesse); cousins, Joanne Smith and Paula Page (Lee); and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews. David has now joined his parents, Barbara and Ralph Robbins; aunt and uncle, Muriel and Clayton Robbins; niece, Sarah Robbins; nephew, Thomas Robbins; and cousin Joanne’s husband, Bruce Smith.

A service to remember and celebrate David’s life was held privately, per his wishes.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders (https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm), the American Indian College Fund (https://collegefund.org/make-a-gift/?source=website), and the United Negro College Fund (https://www.uncf.org/ways-to-donate).

David P. Robbins (1940-2018)