Trueman LeBaron Robbins


Leyden, MA- Trueman LeBaron Robbins, 92, of Leyden, passed away in his sleep of
natural causes at Linda Manor Extended Care Facility in Leeds on October 6th.
Trueman was born in Lexington, MA, August 27, 1928, the son of Trueman L. Robbins,
Sr. and Josephine L. Robbins (both deceased). He graduated from Lexington High
School and attended the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst.

Trueman enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 and served as a seaman, second
class, from 1946-48 on the Heavy Cruiser USS Helena of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater,
and the USS Iowa. He was issued the WWII Medal of Victory.
After the Navy he embarked on his career in the area of horticulture. He began as an
arborist with the Frost and Higgins Co. of Arlington, MA, later assuming the position of
Vice President of the Northampton branch which he established in 1963. He retired in
1990 after forty five years.

While there, he and the Company received an award from Lady Bird Johnson for his
efforts in “The Beautifying America Project” which she spearheaded during her
husband’s presidency. Frost and Higgins Co. received other awards, most notably for
their ambitious planting of the trees at Boston’s Quincy Market where the trees were
flown in by helicopter in the 70’s.

Trueman was actively involved with the design and development of green- space in the
Western Massachusetts area. His Company was responsible for maintaining the health
and growth management of the trees at the local colleges such as Smith, UMass,
Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Vassar, Westfield State and Williams College, as
well as Look Park and Childs Park. Most of the established trees you see in downtown
Northampton and Amherst were planned and planted by his Company.

Trueman was an active outdoorsman, tennis player, volunteer and lover of animals,
especially his Springer Spaniels, Sam I, Sam II and Tucker, fondly know as “the library
dog.”

He was a Past President of the Northampton Lions Club, member of NAA, MAA and
NRA. He also served on the Board of Trustees for the Robertson Memorial Library in
Leyden.

Trueman is survived by his two daughters, Nancy Robbins Federici (David) of Norton,
MA and Gail Javins (William) of Knoxville, TN. Per his request there are no services or
funeral. His ashes will be scattered by his daughters at a later date. Depending on the
Covid situation, a Memorial Service may be held in the Spring in Leyden. Donations in
his memory may be made to the Robertson Memorial Library, 849 Greenfield Rd.,
Leyden, MA, 01031 or to your favorite animal rescue shelter.

An online guestbook in the obituary section is available at www.www.bostoncremation.org

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13 Condolences

  1. Dale Wenner on October 12, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    Wil miss him! I had the pleasure of working with him in Northampton. Learned alot…a good friend he was. Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family❤❤❤



  2. Kathy (wood)Baranoski on October 12, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    Gail, I’m sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family



  3. Kathy Ruseckas on October 13, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Whenever I was volunteer librarian at the Leyden library, Trueman would stop in to see if I needed anything. Then he would settle in for a chat. We talked about our tomatoes, our kids, politics, books, life stories, ecology, town gossip. He was perceptive, smart, and caring, but the best was his impish, sassy sense of humor. When the library opens again, there will be a hole in my hours there.



  4. Kevin f Bouthillette on October 13, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    So sorry to see him go.
    He was a great mentor, started me on the path to a career in arboriculture.
    So much knowledge.



  5. Tom Lutz on October 13, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    Trueman was a wonderful neighbor and a wonderful man.



  6. Vanessa & Gary Russell on October 13, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    We will miss seeing Truman drive by in his pickup truck. He was such a positive caring person. He would stop and say hello. He will be forever in our hearts.



  7. Karyl Affhauser Stachowicz on October 13, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    Nancy and Gail. So sorry read of the loss of your Dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you and may your memories bring you peace.



  8. Craig Marney on October 13, 2020 at 11:37 pm

    I have many great memories of time spent in the woods of Heath with you ,family and friends. It was because of men like you that inspired my love of the outdoors and the desire to share it with my family and others. Cheers to a life well lived.



  9. Lucy Ordoobadi on October 14, 2020 at 1:15 am

    Trueman was one of the kindest people I have ever known. My whole family knew him and enjoyed hanging out with him and his dogs when he tended to my aunt’s trees in Amherst (Lucy Benson). He made a lasting impression on all of us and we will really miss him. Our heartfelt sympathy to Trueman’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.



  10. Tom and Trish on October 14, 2020 at 11:55 am

    Trueman was the best neighbor you could ask for. We were pretty young when we moved here and he was there to help us learn the ways of the land and the woods. We’ll miss seeing him on his daily walks (and later, drives). Trueman, we’ll be planting some trees in your honor. Please look after them.



  11. Wilda M. Ward on October 17, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    To Nancy and Gail…My thoughts are with you both, and wonderful memories of the friendships with both Doris and Tiny, by both Allan and myself.
    Wilda Ward aka Woo Woo



  12. Wilda M. Ward on October 17, 2020 at 4:37 pm

    To Nancy and Gail…So glad to have such great memories of
    good times with Tiny and Doris that have lasted these 70+ years
    that have made us like “family”..
    We shall miss them both.
    aka WooWoo



  13. Jennifer Paris on October 21, 2020 at 10:19 pm

    What a light in Leyden! Warmth and friendliness exuded from Trueman. I enjoyed visiting with him and Tucker at the Leyden Cafe. Best wishes to the family–



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