Obituary of Robert B. Collins, Sr.

Robert B. Collins, Sr.
Laurel, MD
Formerly of Pine Bush, NY

Robert “Bob” B. Collins, Sr. 92, of Laurel, Maryland and a prior resident of Pine Bush, New York;  PalmBay, Florida; and Washington, DC, passed away on April 3, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland while a patient at Harbor Hospital Hospice. He was the founder of the Robert B. Collins Agency of Pine Bush.  For over thirty years, Mr. Collins was actively involved with the Pine Bush Little League as a manager, umpire, President and as the District 19 Administrator. Bob had been a long-time volunteer with the Pine Bush Fire Department and was associated with the G. Paul Bettinger American Legion Post 1308 for over fifty years. Previously, Mr. Collins was elected to the Pine Bush Central School District Board of Education. He was a past Chairman of the Town of Crawford Democratic Committee; a Vice Chairman of the Orange County, New York Democratic Committee; and a member of the New York State Democratic Committee. Mr. Collins was a dedicated Boston Red Sox fan for over seven decades. He thoroughly enjoyed staying in touch with family and friends using social media, reading the daily newspaper, solving crossword and Sudoku puzzles each day, watching the nightly news and singing his favorite Irish songs.

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Collins was the son of the late Thomas J. Collins and the late Helen (née Ludden) Collins. He was predeceased by his brothers Thomas Collins and William L. Collins. Bob was a 1947 graduate of Cathedral High School, Springfield, Massachusetts; a 1948 graduate of the Cranwell Preparatory School, Lenox, Massachusetts and a 1952 graduate of The College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts. Mr. Collins served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.

Mr. Collins was the loving father of Robert B. Collins, Jr. (Monica) of Ellicott City, Maryland, Thomas J. Collins (Vicki) of Cape Coral, Florida and Nancy L. Rowe (James) of Washington, D.C. He was predeceased by his former wife Beatrice C. (née Gallagher) Collins and daughter Kathleen L. Collins. Mr. Collins leaves behind eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his former spouse Patricia (née Werner) Collins and her daughters Lori Stemmler (Daniel) and Kimberly Sakadelis (Norbert) and five grandchildren.

A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Infant Saviour in Pine Bush on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 1pm followed by a Celebration of life  at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 1525 Burlingham Rd,  Pine Bush, from 4pm to 6pm. Inurnment will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Pine Bush Little League, P.O. Box 226, Pine Bush, New York 12566. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com