Newport, R.I.
Robie passed away July 12. Although he battled Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for nearly 30 years, his family was always his first priority. Robie’s business career was devoted to the marine industry, and he was an avid competitive sailor and sportsman. His first experience was at The Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, Massachusetts where he mastered sailing 110s. He raced in the Marion to Bermuda Race, Buzzards Bay Regatta and Block Island Race Week.
Shortly after being diagnosed with MS, Robie became involved with Shake-A-Leg, a non-profit organization formed to help people with disabilities be more independent. Robie won the U.S. disabled sailing championships many times, but he was most proud of winning the World Disabled Sailing Championship in 1993. Later, he was instrumental in starting the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta.
Robie was a member of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, a board member of the New England Chapter of the National MS Society and he chaired the Newport Accessibility Advisory Committee. He wrote the accessibility guidelines for Rhode Island’s Tall Ship Oliver Hazard Perry.
