Resident of Los Gatos

Herbert “Herb” Joseph Robbins, D.D.S., passed away peacefully at home on December 7, 2024. Herb was born in Akron, Ohio on April 23, 1936 to Agnes and Herbert Robbins. An impressionable young (10) Herb took his first small plane ride in a field where a pilot was selling rides for a dime in 1946. It was love at first flight and became a life-long obsession to the detriment of nearly everything else. In pursuit of a career, Herb entered the Air Force after high school and attended Kent State and Case Western Reserve Dental School where he met his future wife. By some miracle of unearned luck, he married Roberta Story.

The couple started a family and settled in Los Gatos in 1965, raising four children: Mark, Heidi, Heather and Scott. After building and spectacularly crashing an experimental plane in Watsonville in 1977, his life was saved by the proximity of the fire department and the many medical staff. Recovery was long and the community support received by the Robbins family was crucial to remaining intact. Boundless gratitude is given to the Brothers Family for their heroic, unwavering love and care. Undaunted by his broken bones and unmendable knees, Herb continued his love of flying and flight history with undiminished enthusiasm, although he did reluctantly give up skydiving. International travel and annual cross-country trips to innumerable plane fly-ins, air races, and model airplane events were spontaneously announced to Roberta’s quiet annoyance.

Interests in gliders, model airplanes, beekeeping, and photography all followed, occasionally interrupted by his work, children, and family. Herb enjoyed community theater and volunteering at the Wings of History Museum, where he restored antique wooden propellers. He enjoyed the roles of theoretical grandfather, part-time “rancher”, aviation pulp reader, and circus audience member. The family would like to thank the team who supported his at home convalescence in his last year with incredible patience and care. A memorial service will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider making a donation to the Wings of History Air Museum at wingsofhistory.org or Circus Smirkus at smirkus.org.

Be kind to your family; They will write your obituary.