In Memoriam: Leon Robbin

Leon Robbin, with his wife Olga, accepting his honorary doctorate in 1997 from then-president Fr. O'Donovan.

The Library will greatly miss Dr. Leon Robbin, 1922 graduate of Georgetown's Law School, recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Georgetown in 1997, and a longtime friend of the Library and its music collection. Dr. Robbin died on May 22 at the age of 101.

Dr. Robbin, an attorney with a 47-year career at P.R. Mallory, spent his life surrounded by music and made it possible for the Georgetown learning community to share in his passion by endowing the Leon Robbin Music Collection and Gallery at the Lauinger Library. Susan K. Martin, former University Librarian, says of him:

Leon's sense of humor, energy, and delight in the world around him made him the center of a large group of adoring family and friends. Even after a fall while playing tennis at 95 kept him wheelchair-bound, he and his lovely wife continued to enjoy their music, annual travel to Europe, and frequent visits to Washington. Those of us at the Lauinger Library were particularly fortunate to have been able to regard him as a good friend, and one we shall never forget.

University Librarian Artemis Kirk says:

Leon Robbin was one of the finest appreciators of music I have had the privilege to know. His recollections of music and musicians were keen, and his interest in others' experiences was avid. I will miss his wit and wisdom, but I am grateful that his musical legacy will live on at Georgetown.