Tag Archives: Dylan Robbin

Roundup: Dylan Robbin, Compo Sunday, World Cup …

Posted on July 13, 2026 | 3 comments

Dylan Robbin is the newest member of the “06880” board of directors.

One seat on the 7-person board is reserved for a member of Inklings, Staples High School’s newspaper and website.

A rising junior, Dylan has immersed himself in many aspects of school life. Passionate about sports and journalism, he is a member of the varsity football team, director of sports media of Inklings News, and a coordinator on the WWPT-FM leadership team.

Outside of school, Dylan enjoys golfing, working out and watching movies. His favorite film is “The Departed.”

For more information on the “06880” board, click here.

Dylan Robbin

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Yesterday’s Sunday morning worship drew a large crowd to Compo Beach.

Several churches rotate leadership of the service. This one was directed by Green’s Farms Congregational Church.

Sunday morning worship, at Compo Beach. (Photo/Karen Como)

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Soon after the morning worship service — and throughout the beautiful day — the Sandbar did a booming business.

But the Compo Beach concessionaire was not the only active “sandbar.”

The one off Schlaet’s Point, on Hillspoint Road between Compo and Old Mill Beaches, was humming too.

Boats anchored in the low tide. Folks wandered out onto the sand.

Planned? Impromptu?

Who cares?! It was just another great summer Sunday in Westport.

(Photo/Tammy Barry)

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Meanwhile, back on land around the corner, there was this classic scene:

(Photo/Nathan Greenbaum)

Sure, the cars and homes are fancy. But it doesn’t get more Anytown USA than this.

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We don’t yet know who’ll be playing in Sunday’s World Cup final.

But we do know where you can see what’s sure to be a great match: the Westport Library.

And that’s not all. There’s a full, family-friendly soccer afternoon.

At 1:30, Westport soccer personalities including former Staples High School coaches Dan Woog and Chris O’Dell, national champion Paddy Donovan and soccer filmmaker Joe Pierce will tell stories about their lives in the Beautiful Game.

From 1 to 3 p.m., fans can exchange Panini brand stickers.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or only recently caught World Cup fever, this is a chance to spend an afternoon with soccer people — and watch what is sure to be a memorable match surrounded by many others.

And you can’t beat the admission price. It’s free!

(“Westport Meets the World Cup” is supported by the Westport Soccer Association, Mickey Kydes Soccer Enterprises and “06880.”)

(Graphic courtesy of Isabelle Sareen)

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The Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble danced across the Levitt Pavilion stage last night.

The free show was one of dozens this year, at the open-air theater on the Saugatuck River.

This week’s schedule:

  • Tuesday, July 14: Connecticut Ballet (7:30 p.m., free)
  • Wednesday, July 15: Elena Moon Park: Children’s Series (7 p.m., free)
  • Thursday, July 16: Amani Burnham, blues/rock (7:30 p.m., free)
  • Friday, July 17: Dogs in a Pile, psychedelic/jazz/funk rock (6 p.m., paid tickets)
  • Saturday, July 18: Hollywood Nights: The Bob Seger Experience (7 p.m., paid tickets)
  • Sunday, July 19: MT Jones (7 p.m., free).

For tickets and more information, click here.

Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble (Photo/Susan Garment)

On Saturday, Eggy returned to the Levitt, for 2 high-energy sets. (Photo/Dick Wingate)

 

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Westport’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary continued this weekend. The Westport Library hosted “A Small Standard Patriotic Flower Show.” Floral designs, horticulture and education tables — all with a red, white and blue theme — were presented by the Westport Garden Club.

From left: Joni Andrews, Kara McKenna-Wong, Kelle Ruden, Joanne Heller, Nathalie Fonteyne, Andi Turner, Anne Lester.

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Noted Westport artist Nina Bentley is participating in the current New York Historical’s “Weitzman Shoe Museum” exhibit. It includes a number of pieces from the collection of Stuart Weitzman,

Nina Bentley, with her work (bottom).

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Outgoing State Senator Ceci Maher is the featured guest on July 23 for “This Is Your Life”. The series — a collaboration between the Westport Center for Senior Activities and The Legacy Project USA — is a chance to learn about the lives of friends and neighbors among us, both well known and quiet.

Prior to her 2 terms as state senator, Maher served in both the public and corporate worlds. She also raised 3 children. Her daughter Katherine is CEO and president of National Public Radio.

Rozanne Gates, owner of The Legacy Project USA, is the moderator of “This Is Your Life.” The series at the Senior Center has included Mark Yurkiw, Rabbi Greg Wall, Harold Bailey, Bill Harmer, Miggs Burroughs and Carleigh Welsh.

To attend “This Is Your Life, Senator Ceci Maher,” call 203-341-5099

State Senator Ceci Maher.

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Longtime Westporter, noted publisher, former Westport Library president and Brown University trustee Joel Davis died peacefully on Saturday, after a short illness. He was 92.

The Chicago native was president of his Highland Park High School Class of 1952. His college years at Brown University made a major impact on his life.

Joel became the youngest trustee of the Brown Corporation at age 34. He served from 1968-73. He was head class agent for the Class of 1956 for 35 years.

Joel kept in touch with dozens of classmates, and knew the names of their partners, children and other important life details. At a classmate’s wedding he met Carol Barnett, his wife of 67 years. They moved to Westport in 1965.

After college Joel and his father Bernie founded Davis Publications. He was president and publisher for 40 years. At its peak they published 60 special interest magazines including Ellery Queen’s Mystery, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction, Income Opportunities, Sylvia Porter’s Personal Finance, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, and Analog.

Architectural Designs was launched, with his wife Carol as editor. One of Joel’s three sons, Jonathan, was brought in 20 years later to learn the business and eventually take it over. Jon evolved AD into an e-commerce leading business, selling home plans to builders and individuals.

Joel was proud that last year his grandson, Jared Davis, became the third generation CEO of AD.

Joel’s father co-founded Ziff-Davis Publishing Company in 1928, which meant that Joel and his family have had a key role in publishing for 98 years.

Joel served on the board of the Westport Library for many years, including 2 terms as the president. He was also served a 25-year board member of the Magazine Publishers of America.

Additionally, he was a director for Mutual of New York on 3 different funds. Joel served on the Merritt Parkway Conservancy board, and was a Young Presidents Organization Fairchester Chapter chair.

Joel is survived by his wife Carol; sister Carol Davis Teten; sons Chuck (Jan), Andy (Kate) and Jon (Evelyn); grandchildren Jared (Emily), Jenna (Connor Grealy) and Jack, and two great-grandchildren. One more is on the way.

Joel’s family will host a celebration of his life this fall.

Joel Davis, at his 84th birthday.

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Many “Westport … Naturally” photos are striking, inspiring, or for many other reasons make us think, “Wow! We live in a beautiful and special place!”

This one doesn’t.

Still, it’s part of the daily rhythm of life by the shore.

(Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)

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And finally … in honor of Nina Bentley’s artwork, at New York Historical (item above):

(Another week — and more chances for “06880” to give you all the news, features, photos and more that you love. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)

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Posted in Beach, Entertainment, Environment, Obituaries, religion, Sports

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Dylan Robbin’s Holocaust Story: 9th Grader Says “Never Forget”

Posted on May 5, 2025 | 15 comments

“Never forget.”

One of the great fears of the rapidly dwindling number of Holocaust survivors is that it will be forgotten.

The horrors of the 1930s and ’40s, the evil that can be done when no one stands up, the lessons learned — all may be lost in just a couple of generations.

Dylan Robbin is 3 generations removed from Nazi Germany. But he is making sure that no one will forget.

Dylan Robbin

Dylan is a typical Staples High School freshman. He plays football, and is part of Inklings, WWPT-FM and the Service League of Boys.

Two years ago, Dylan was preparing for his bar mitzvah. A key part of the coming-of-age rite is a project demonstrating commitment to Jewish values.

Dylan had had heard stories of his family’s personal history in the Holocaust. In some ways, it was similar to millions of others: His paternal great-grandfather, a cardiologist named Samek “Samuel” Rubinstein from Krakow, Poland, was targeted by the Nazis.

In another way though, it was special. Dr. Rubinstein was Oskar Schindler’s physician.

The German industrialist — a member of the Nazi party — saved the lives of 1,200 Jews, by hiring them for his enamelware and munitions factories in occupied Poland.

Dylan’s great-grandfather worked there, treating Schindler and his employees

Dr. Rubenstein’s Krakow ghetto ID card.

But that’s not all.

In 1944, as the Russians closed in on the Eastern Front, Dr. Rubinstein and many of Schindler’s employees were transported to Auschwitz and Mauthausen.

While at the Mauthausen concentration camp — where he helped treat prisoners — Dr. Rubinstein met Simon Wiesenthal. After surviving 4 camps and a death march, Wiesenthal dedicated his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals. The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles is named in his honor.

Yet there may have been no center — and no convictions of Adolf Eichmann, and many other Nazis — if not for Dr. Rubinstein.

At Mauthausen, as Wiesenthal shrank to just 80 pounds, the doctor kept his spirits up.

Simon Wiesenthal (left) and Dylan Robbin’s grandfather reunited after the Holocaust.

In gratitude, Wiesenthal gave him several drawings. Years later while cleaning out his apartment, Dylan’s grandfather found them. The family donated them to the United States Holocaust Musuem in Washington.

A drawing by Simon Wiesenthal, given to Dr. Rubinstein. It is now housed at the United States Holocaust Memory.

Though his great-grandfather was not on Schindler’s list of Jews he saved — memorialized in the 1982 book “Schindler’s Ark” and 1993 movie “Schindler’s List” — Dylan realized that his ancestor’s story needed to be told.

He began researching it. The more he learned — including watching “Schindler’s List” — the more fascinated he became.

There was, for example, the story of Sam Soldinger. He survived Mauthausen — and 6 other concentration camps — and knew Dr. Rubinstein.

Dylan discovered that Sam’s story is told in a museum exhibit in Chandler, Arizona, and that Sam’s daughter Laura wrote a book called “Death & Diamonds: A Holocaust Survivor’s Inspiring Journey of Survival, Faith, Hope, Luck and the American Dream.”

Amazingly, Laura lived just 30 miles from Dylan’s grandparents in Arizona. The 2 families had an emotional visit, sharing stories about their relatives, Schindler, and the journeys their families have taken.

Laura told Dylan’s grandfather, Mark Robbin, “I would not be alive if were not for your father.”

“That’s a story that needs to be shared,” Dylan says.

He has many other stories. And — beyond his bar mitzvah project — the teenager wants to share them with as many people as he can.

One way is through the video he made 2 years ago. (Click here to see.)

“There’s so much antisemitism today,” he says. “There were swastikas in Weston and Wilton. It may never go away. But if people in Westport and the US hear personal stories, it could help.

“I want to get this out. People need to realize the Holocaust was a real thing. It was awful. It was inhumane. This needs to be told. I haven’t done enough of that yet.”

Dylan Robbin, at his 2023 bar mitzvah.

While at Bedford Middle School last year, Dylan’s language arts class read “Night,” by Elie Wiesel. Dylan mentioned his project to his teacher, Alison Antunovich, who suggested he present it to the class.

This year, the BMS Culture Club watched the video.

“People my age know what the Holocaust was. But they don’t understand it,” Dylan notes.

“Personal stories can convey the reality of it. We need this now, more than ever.”

Dylan’s family’s story is certainly personal. After being freed from Mauthausen, and making his way to the US, Dr. Rubinstein changed his name. Samek “Samuel” Rubinstein became Dr. Stanly Robbin.

He had a successful career in this country. In addition to medicine, he founded and chaired the Long Island Holocaust Memorial Commission. He designed the Long Beach Holocaust Memorial Monument in Nassau County. Dedicated in 1987, it received international recognition, and was the subject of an Austrian Broadcasting Corporation documentary.

Long Beach Holocaust Memorial, designed by Dr. Stanley Robbin.

Dr. Robbin’s great-grandson Dylan Robbin now lives comfortably in Westport.

But he will never forget.

And he is doing his best to make sure that no one else does, either.

(Dr. Rubinstein’s stories — and many others — are told in “Schindler’s Legacy.” Dylan used the 1995 book as oart  of his research.

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Posted in Education, History, religion, Staples HS

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Kids’ Scrabble Tournament Sequel: In Other Words…

Posted on May 1, 2019 | 6 comments

Turns out that Jeffrey Pogue — the Bedford Middle School 8th grader profiled this morning — is not the only national-level Scrabble competitor. Long Lots 3rd grader Dylan Robbin placed 3rd in the national competition last weekend in Philadelphia, in the elementary school division.

His mother Sara writes:

A year ago, Dylan Robbin learned competitive scrabble was actually a thing. I showed him an “06880” article about Jeffrey Pogue, a Bedford Middle School student, who had just won the highest division of the National Scrabble Tournament.

Dylan, who loved the game of Scrabble, looked on the internet to see the age limit for entering. It was 8 years old. He was just 7. He said, “Next year, I’m going.”

The article mentioned a Scrabble Club at the Ridgefield Library run by Cornelia Guest, who coaches Scrabble champions.

Dylan, who had only played with family members and on the computer, tried the club for the first time this fall.

It was a far drive, and Dylan would get home at bedtime, so I figured I’d try it once.

When we got there we saw a sign-up for the Terror of the Tiles tournament to be held in the library on a Sunday in October. Dylan wanted to enter. I figured this would be an easy way to cross “Scrabble tournament” off my list.

It was Dylan’s first time playing competitive Scrabble, with timers. But he won the elementary school division. Cornelia suggested he enter the North American School Scrabble Tournament in Philadelphia.

I knew this would not be a one time thing.

My husband and I were hesitant to enter the national tournament because of Dylan’s age and lack of experience. He would be playing kids a few years older who were on the competitive Scrabble circuit (yes, there is one). But he begged to go. He loves competitive sports, so playing the board game he loves competitively was right up his alley.

Being new to the club, Dylan did not have a partner. But Stefan Fatsis, the author of Word Freak, called Cornelia, looking for one for a 3rd grader from San Antonio, Ricky Rodriguez.

The boys would never meet or play together live until the night before the competition. They did play online a few times as the tournament got closer, talking on the phone to discuss their best plays.

I heard them from the other room discussing words and where to place them. It sounded like they were speaking a different language.

They chose the name Scrabbleclef for their team, since they both play piano. And their teamwork was like 2 hands on it – one melody, one harmony. The boys had different strengths, but they worked together beautifully.

Dylan Robbin (left), Cornelia Guest and Dylan’s partner Ricky Rodriguez.

They finished the first day 6-0, beating kids from all over the country, often by several hundred points.

The second day, after winning their first game and making the semifinals, they lost in their 8th game. They missed the finals by just 10 points.

Dylan looks forward to competing again next year. And I am so thankful for learning about competitive Scrabble from “06880.”

Who would have thought Dylan’s favorite family game would take us all the way to Philadelphia a year later?

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Posted in Children, Entertainment, People

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