ROBYNS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 06:54:54 :

Marin Independent Journal
Tuesday, April 23, 2002

ROBYNS (ROBIJNS), Ludo Thomas, 86, of Ross, passed away April 6, 2002.

Ludo Thomas Robyns (Robijns)
Died at his home in Ross in his 86th year of cancer. He bore his final days bravely and in good spirits, so characteristic of his deep faith, stoical outlook and gentle nature. Tom took great pride in his Jesuit education and, from an early age, was active in St. Vincent de Paul Society work. He continued to support charitable causes throughout his life.

He was born in Amsterdam on September 27, 1915. He attended St Ignatius College Preparatory School in Amsterdam. He studied engineering at the Delft University of Technology. During the Second World War, he served in the Dutch army and then participated in the Underground. In this capacity, he met his wife, Katharine, a Russian émigré, studying at the University of Vienna. In 1952, they sailed from The Netherlands to the United States and settled almost immediately in Ross, building the house on Berry Lane where they resided the rest of their lives. He joined the Pacific Gas and Electric Company as an engineer in the Emeryville research laboratories and was with that company in the head office in San Francisco for 28 years. He was involved in the creation of energy sources, from harnessing geysers to constructing turbines and dams, throughout Northern California. After retiring, he formed Robyns Associates, a technology exchange company, and traveled the world extensively with spells in Bangladesh, Pakistan and on Sakhalin Island, Russia. Tom helped to found the Netherlands-American University League in Berkeley in the 1970's and, during the 1960/70's, was active in Friends Outside, which supported the families of prisoners in San Quentin. He was a member of St. Anselm's Church, Ross and of Sirs Branch #47. He also loved to attend early morning mass at the Convent Chapel in Dominican University. His wife, Katharine, died in 1993. He is survived by a brother, John, in San Diego, and two daughters, Catherine and Ann, and four grandchildren (of San Francisco & Berkeley). A Memorial Service will be held in St. Anselm's Church, Ross at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 27 followed by a reception at The Marin Art and Garden Center.