Hanover, NH – Raymond P. Robbins, 89, died October 31, 2025 surrounded by family at Kendal in Hanover, NH. Ray was born October 16, 1936 in Framingham, Massachusetts, the 5th and youngest child of Grace and Walter Robbins, and was raised in Hopkinton, MA. He attended Hopkinton High School where he was student government president, valedictorian, and a three-sport captain. Ray attended Dartmouth College with a NROTC scholarship and graduated in 1958 Phi Beta Kappa with Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. This was a huge accomplishment as he was the first of his family to get a college education. He served his U.S. Navy commission on the mine sweeper USS Sagacity as an engineering officer for two years and then went to Harvard University for a Masters in Education, graduating Phi Delta Kappa in 1961.
Ray married the loving companion in his life’s odyssey, Lenita Dee Scott, in 1959 after they met at the Officer’s Ball in Charleston, SC-he, 22, dressed dashingly in his dress whites and she, 20, having recently relocated there.
In 1961 Ray and Lenita very boldly moved to Lugano, Switzerland so that Ray could become a chemistry teacher at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS). After just a little over a year and at a very young age of 27, Ray was tapped to become the school’s headmaster and led the TASIS school until 1968. Their two children, Kristin and Heather, were born in Lugano in 1962 and 1964. Ray then returned with his family to Hanover, NH, to work in the Development Office at Dartmouth College for a transitional year while he contemplated his next move in education. In 1969, Ray became the headmaster of University Liggett School (ULS) in Grosse Pointe, Michigan which he led for 15 years. Afterwards, Ray and Lenita returned to Europe and were inspired to create Swiss Semester in 1986, a program for high school sophomores that continues to this day as an opportunity to study abroad in Zermatt, Switzerland; teens engage in rich academics, outdoor experiences, travel, international education, character development, and leadership-all about which he was passionate. In 2002, Ray and Lenita returned to Hanover to be close to the Dartmouth community and family.
Aside from his love of chocolate milkshakes, chocolate, and French fries, Ray found joy in creating programs to broaden students’ awareness of the world, cultivate empathy and connections with those around them, and to inspire their growing leadership. Aside from Swiss Semester, Ray and Lenita also founded Project Russia in 1967, a summer program to foster greater understanding between the two countries. In addition, Ray and Lenita led trips to Switzerland and Spain while Ray was a headmaster at ULS.
In Ray’s words, “I have only to recall my Swiss Semester experience to remind me that everything is possible and that not to have faith in (young) people is condescending, counterproductive, and from my experience, unjustified!”
Some of the things that brought Ray the most joy was time in the outdoors- whether on the ski slope racing down that perfect groomer always trying to improve his form; weaving his way through the Hanover traffic on his moped with a tennis racket and golf club in his backpack; attending Dartmouth sporting events, lectures, or concerts (Oh, how he loved the football, soccer, and hockey games!!); on his bike with Lenita traveling through the countryside of Switzerland and France; or being out in the mountains hiking and climbing with the students at Swiss Semester. He also adored readings about foreign affairs and education and was always eager to share and discuss (or quiz) anyone lucky enough to sit around the table with him!
A common refrain from anyone who encountered Ray was that he was always on the move with determination and a handsome gleaming smile, dressed in crisp pink polo shirt, often looking like the excited little boy that he still could resemble even days before he passed away. He was very fond of greeting people with “Ciao”!
He is preceded in death by his parents, Grace and Walter Robbins; his sisters, Virginia (Haskins), Eleanor (Welch), and Marjorie (Hall); his brother, Walter “Brud” (Robbins); and his great granddaughter Zoe Rose (Robbins-Snyder). Ray is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lenita; his son Kristin “Kris” (Robbins) of Hanover, NH (wife Kathryn Robbins) and granddaughters Heidi (Robbins) and Liesel (Robbins) and one great grandchild Olafur (Robbins-Snyder); his daughter Heather (Robbins Carley) of West Lebanon, NH and grandson Alexander (Carley) and two granddaughters Sarah (Carley) and Coreen (Carley); and seven nieces and nephews.
Celebration of Life to be held at a later date. Details to come on this Rand Wilson website (https://www.rand-wilson.com/obituary/raymond-robbins )
Further memories of Ray and Lenita’s lives together may be forthcoming on this website as well.
Any donations may be directed to the “Ray and Lenita Robbins Scholarship” at University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe, MI (https://www.uls.org/scholarships). “The Ray and Lenita Robbins Scholarship recognizes new students entering grades six through twelve who excel academically and contribute meaningfully to school life. Recipients are selected for their strong character, citizenship, and active involvement in the University Liggett School community.”
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