William Robbins' Obituary
William H. "Red" Robbins, 82, of North Ridgeville passed away Saturday August 22, 2009 at the Kemper House in Olmsted Falls. He was a Scientist-Project Manager who has a distinguished 38 year career at NASA while working on Nuclear Power, Nuclear Rocket engines, Wind Power, Communication Satellites, and the Shuttle/Centaur Program
He was born in Cleveland and had resided in N. Ridgeville the past 33 years. He had previously lived in North Olmsted for 20 years.
Mr. Robbins in survived by his wife of 58 years, Lucille (nee Shaffer), sons Jeffrey (Rosemary) of Lakewood and James (Sharon) Robbins of Hudson, six grandchildren Lisa, Brian, Ellen, David, Erica and Daniel Robbins. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Agnes Robbins.
He was a graduate of Rhodes High School in 1944, and spent 3 years in the US Navy from 1944-1947 receiving an honorable discharge. He receive a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1948. He later went on to complete a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 1952. Mr. Robbins began at NASA as a engineer and rose to several management positions while spending his entire career at NASA. Early in his career he was involved in Nuclear Energy Research in Rocket development. He went on to project management positions where he lead the program development of the first Nuclear powered rocket engine (NERVA) in the late 1960's for potential use on the Saturn 5 booster for long term space missions. Mr. Robbins had extensive experience in leading Communication satellite technology programs that were forerunners to cellular technology today along with delivering TV communications via satellite to underdeveloped countries like India. For this, NASA was awarded an Emmy from the entertainment industry for his efforts in 1985. For his many achievements, he was named to the President's Commission by President Ronald Reagan. He worked early domestic Wind Power projects during the early eighties installing a 2 MW Wind Turbine in North Carolina and a 200 KW turbine in New Mexico. Mr. Robbins was project manager for the Shuttle/Centaur rocket payload program. Mr. Robbins was a partner in a Space Technology consulting firm, Analytical Engineering, for 10 years upon retirement from NASA. William Robbins was also a low handicap golfer for many years playing out of the Oberlin Golf Club. He starting playing golf at 25 and got his first hole in one 57 years later. Red shot his age when he was 73. He enjoyed reading history novels and took frequent trips in Pinehurst NC for golf and vacations. Visitation 3-5 and 7-9PM Monday at David Bogner Family Funeral Home 36625 Center Ridge Road North Ridgeville where services will be held Tuesday at 11:30 AM. Burial will take place later at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman. Memorials are suggested in Red's Memory to Holy Family Hospice, 6707 State Rd, Parma, OH 44134.
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