Patrick Robins

MISSOULA – Dr. Patrick Robins, beloved husband, father, grandfather and steadfast friend, died on Friday, March 15, 2013, at home, surrounded by the love of his wife and four children. He traveled his four-month journey living with brain cancer with his characteristic positive attitude and steady determination to live life with grace. Even in these last months he would often end the day with the words, "Now that was a very good day".

Pat was born Nov. 12, 1940, in Butte to Mary Connole Robins and Charles "Red" Robins. He was educated in Butte Catholic Schools and graduated with honors in pre-med from Carroll College in 1963. In the summer of 1965 he married Kitte Keane at St. Joseph's Church in Butte.

Pat's graduation from Marquette Medical School in 1967 was followed by an Internship at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. He joined the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon and from 1968 to 1970 was stationed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. During this time Pat and Kitte welcomed with love and complete joy, their first two children, Shannon and Charlene.

Pat also welcomed with enthusiasm the chance to participate in another of his passions, flying airplanes, as a navigator in the F4 Phantom jet. He held the record for flying hours logged by a flight surgeon in his squadron. From 1970 to 1974 Pat completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where the family was blessed by the arrival of another daughter Jessica.

Pat knew there was only one place he wanted to practice orthopedics and that was Montana. In 1974 Pat and Kitte moved to Missoula where Pat joined Missoula Orthopedic Associates, the present Misssoula Bone and Joint. In 1981, Patrick Michael Robins was born, and the family had their first child who was a native Montanan.

Pat had a passion for the practice of orthopedic surgery; he was truly interested in and enjoyed his patients. He also valued each person on a medical team and was aware of the value of each one's contribution to successful outcomes. He retired from surgical practice in 2003 and became the medical director of orthopedic surgery at St. Patrick Hospital for three years. He retired in 2006.

Pat not only loved his family and medicine, he loved many other things too. He was happiest doing a project or simply being in nature. He was known for his exceptional sense of humor and his ability to tell a story. He enjoyed skiing, fishing, hiking, golf, bird hunting with Bailey and elk hunting in the fall. Travel was another source of interest and joy and he insisted that trips were taken now, and not put off for another day. He enjoyed art, music and plays. He was an innovative thinker and he valued innovation in others.

The list of medical societies and community organizations he was involved in is too long to list here. Particularly dear to his heart are his presidency of the Clark Fork Coalition and the group's success in removing the Milltown Dam on the Clark Fork River, his excellent efforts at researching his family tree, his 40-year relationship with the Orthopedic Practice Society, a group he trained with at the Mayo Clinic, and Columbia Belle the family horse on the Missoula carousel, especially with one of his grandchildren in the saddle.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kitte Keane Robins; his children, son, Patrick Michael Robins, and sons-in-law, and grandchildren; Shannon and Patrick Ninbuurg and their children, Nathaniel and Naomi; Charlene and Steve Dresang and their children Lizzie, Finley and Jocko; and Jessica and Marco Milanese and their children, Dominic and Molly.

He is also survived by his 10 siblings, Gayle Joyce, Joan Robins, Sue Ueland, Charles (Tiger), Ray, Bert, Mike, Jim, Rocco and Tony Robins and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A vigil service will be held at Christ the King Church on Tuesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated on March 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Church.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Clark Fork Coalition, The University of Montana, United Way of Missoula, The Butte Archives or the charity of one's choice.

Pat, you loved the stars and pondered their mystery, now you are among them.

Read Patrick Robins's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.