Dr. Robin Wallace, 84

Middletown, Conn.

Robin crossed the bar at home on March 20, 2021, after a long struggle, without complaint, with prostate cancer. Born Alan Robin Gordon Wallace in Weymouth, England, he was the only child of Dr. Gordon and Muriel Wallace. Robin grew up sailing in Weymouth with his father. He graduated with a degree in medicine from Exeter College in Oxford University. He first visited Newport in 1964, when his father was Commodore of the Royal Dorset Yacht Club, the Challenger of Record, for the British America’s Cup Challenge, as well as Fleet Surgeon, the same position his son would hold years later for the New York Yacht Club. Robin desired to do his residency in the U.S. and did so at the Children’s Hospital in Boston. After completing his residency, he moved to Newport, and established his practice at Aquidneck Medical Associates. Soon after he commenced his practice, although a British Citizen, Robin was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Vietnam as a Major in the Medical Corps. After his service, he returned to his practice until 2003. He remained however the school doctor for St. George’s School until 2017. Robin was not only a sought-after pediatrician, but an avid promoter of sailing. As a member of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club he and his predecessor, race committee chairman Robert Conner, were determined to establish new standards of excellence in race management. They trained the members of the Club and at the same time introduced to America a European type of level ocean racing called “ton” racing. The race series for the Sail Cup was an instant success and showcased the race management competence of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, for which it is nationally recognized today. Robin not only worked on the water, but he also promoted sailing events for Newport. As the Chairman of the State Yachting Committee for over 17 years, he educated the state legislators of the tremendous economic impact that sailing produced for the state. Probably the most successful events for Newport and the state of R.I. were the Volvo Races in 2015 and 2018 which, it is fair to say, would not have stopped in Newport without the efforts of the Rhode Island State Yachting Commission advocating for the release of state funding required to support the event. Sailing was not Robin’s only love. He was devoted to St. George’s School. He conducted morning “sick call” at the school for over 35 years and was instrumental in upgrading the health center and the general wellness of the St. George’s community. His gentle and respectful manner gained the confidence of many teenagers and they often sought his counsel and advice. He attended football and hockey games, to provide immediate medical attention to players on both teams in the event of injury. His devotion to the student athletes was recognized by the school when he was inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame. After the loss of the America’s Cup in 1983, Robin was one of the founding members of Sail Newport, a public sailing organization that provides sailing instruction and boating facilities to the public. Robin leaves two cousins in England, his St. George’s family, his Sail Newport family, his Ida Lewis family, the Murphy family, his loyal friends Bill and Pat Steel, and a host of friends in Newport and beyond.