Raymond Robbins

Raymond P. Robbins, 89, died Oct. 31, 2025, surrounded by family at Kendal at Hanover in New Hampshire. Ray was born Oct. 16, 1936, in Framingham, the fifth and youngest child of Grace and Walter Robbins, and was raised in Hopkinton. He attended Hopkinton High School, where he was student government president, valedictorian and a three-sport captain. Ray attended Dartmouth College on an NROTC scholarship and graduated in 1958 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. 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 master’s in education, graduating as a member of 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, South Carolina — 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 more than a year and at the 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, New Hampshire, 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, leading it for 15 years. Afterward, Ray and Lenita returned to Europe and were inspired in 1986 to create Swiss Semester, 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 features 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 inspire their growing leadership. Aside from Swiss Semester, Ray and Lenita in 1967 founded Project Russia, 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 reading 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 a crisp, pink polo shirt, often looking like the excited little boy 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; sisters Virginia Haskins, Eleanor Welch and Marjorie Hall; brother Walter “Brud” Robbins; and great-granddaughter Zoe Rose Robbins-Snyder. Ray is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lenita; son Kristin “Kris” Robbins of Hanover, New Hampshire (wife Kathryn Robbins); granddaughters Heidi and Liesel Robbins; great-grandchild Olafur Robbins-Snyder; daughter Heather Robbins Carley of West Lebanon, New Hampshire; grandson Alexander Carley; granddaughters Sarah and Coreen Carley; and seven nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Details will be announced at the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home website.

Any donations may be directed to the Ray and Lenita Robbins Scholarship at University Liggett School.

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