Fairfielder Robert Nevins Passes, Age 92

Robert A. Nevins, MD, age 92, of Fairfield, beloved husband of 65 years of Mary (McElroy) Nevins, passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Bridgeport Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Bridgeport, the son of the late Edward and Malvina Nevins, he had been a Fairfield resident for over 60 years. He attended St. Augustine's Parochial School, graduated Central High School where he was a member of the varsity baseball team, and began his undergraduate studies at Mount St. Mary's College, leaving after his freshman year to join the United States Navy during World War II. Dr. Nevins served over 3 years in the pacific theater including the liberation of the Philippines, achieving the rank of Lieut. (jg). Following the War he completed his studies at Mount St. Mary's and then graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1951. In 1950 he married his beloved wife Mary of Trumbull. He served his residency in Washington D.C. and returned home to Fairfield to begin his family practice with his long-time partner, the late Robert Gaffney, MD.

Dr. Nevins was committed to helping his many patients across five decades, finally retiring in the mid-1990s. He served as Chief of Family Practice at Bridgeport Hospital, was the appointed physician for both the Fairfield Police and Fire Departments and was the head physician at the University of Bridgeport Health Center, including stints as team physician for the UB varsity football and basketball teams. Doctor Nevins was also an attending physician at St. Vincent's Medical Center and Park City Hospital, and served as in-house physician for various manufacturing companies in Bridgeport.

An avid sportsman, skier, and golfer, he was a long-time member of the Patterson Club having joined in 1952, where he had been recognized as an honorary member for the last decade. Dr. Nevins had been a member of the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, the Gaelic American Club, the Fayerweather Yacht Club where he was past Fleet Surgeon, and under the call sign KF1J, a long-time member of the Fairfield and CT Amateur Ham Radio Associations. He served as a member and later as Chairman of the Fairfield Board of Health throughout the 1960's and 1970's. An active member of the Fairfield Democratic Party in the 1950's-1960's, he was instrumental in the election of long-time First Selectman John J. Sullivan. Together with his wife Mary, he was active member of the Fairfield Historical Society, the CT Audubon Society, the Contemporary Club, the St Thomas Parish Men's League, and was active in the Boy Scouts of America.

Survivors in addition to his loving wife Mary include six beloved children, Anne Nevins-Monteiro and her husband Silvino of Bridgeport, Robert A. Nevins, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Claremont, NH, Christopher B. Nevins and his husband Joseph DeLuca of Boynton Beach, FL, Michael E. Nevins and his wife Sheila of Black Rock, Richard C. Nevins and his wife Karen of Corning, NY and Gail N. McGuirk and her husband Eric of Black Rock; 16 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren all of whom he cherished.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. meeting directly at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1719 Post Road, Fairfield. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield. Friends may call Sunday from 3-6 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com
"73, this is KF1J clear" (Bob Nevins signing-off)