Louis I. Robbins Obituary

Louis I. Robbins, 91, a resident of Augusta Center for Health & Rehabilitation, Augusta, Maine passed away on January 7, 2014, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. He formerly resided in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, where he had lived for thirty years as the owner and resident artist of the Mad Hatter’s Tattoo Studio. He was born in Augusta, Maine, on December 13, 1922, and grew up on the Robbins Family Farm in Vassalboro, Maine, with his siblings Wallace, Gerald, and Marjorie. He attended schools in Vassalboro and Waterville, Maine, and graduated from Colburn Classical Institute. He attended Moody Bible Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a major in religious studies and also attended various culinary arts schools.

Louis was predeceased by his son, Michael H. Robbins of Waterville, Maine; his stepgranddaughter Jamie Lynn Veilleux of Old Town, Maine; his parents Maurice S. Robbins and Melvina Masse Robbins and his brother Gerald Robbins, all of Vassalboro, Maine. He is survived by the mother of his children, Lauretta Cummings Veilleux and her partner, Glendon Ellis of Augusta, Maine; his daughter, Cynthia E. Cote and her partner, Edwin Frye and granddaughter, Wendy Davis and her husband, Justin and greatgrandsons, Dylan and Derek all of Waterville, Maine; his son, David M. Robbins and his wife, Rhea Cote and granddaughter, Bridget T. Robbins and great-grandson, Xerses O. Grant, all of Brewer, Maine; grandson, Benjamin J. Robbins and his wife, Jana and greatgrandsons, Lucien and Ian, all of Seattle, Washington; and grandson, Jesse J. Robbins, of Waltham, Maine.

Louis is survived by his step-son, Robert J. Veilleux, Jr. and his wife, Beverly and stepgrandaughter, Renee Thibodeau and her husband, Thomas and step-greatgrandson,Hunter and step-great-granddaughter, Olivia, all of Old Town, Maine; step-son, Eric Veilleux and his wife, Cindy, of Waterville, Maine; and step-granddaughter, Shasta Pelotte and her husband, Jerad and step-great-granddaughters, Lyndsie and Isabelle and step-great-grandson, Jackson, all of Benton, Maine; step-graddaughter, Erika Veilleux and her partner, Danylle Pelletier of Winslow. He is also survived by his brother, Wallace Robbins and sister-in-law, Beverly Robbins of Brewer, Maine and their children and granddaughter; and by his sister, Marjorie Lalime of Damariscotta, Maine, and her children, granddaughters, and grandsons; and his sister-in-law, Maxine Robbins of Vassalboro, Maine and her children, granddaughters, and grandsons.

Louis had an impact on many lives as a woolen mill worker in Vassalboro, Maine before World War II, a medic in the U.S. Army during World War II in front line field hospitals, a certified meat cutter, an owner of several restaurants in Maine, a food service manager for several large corporations in New England, a certified motor cycle mechanic, a retail motor cycle salesman in China, Maine, and a licensed tattoo artist and tattoo studio owner in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. He was the original Mad Hatter Tattoo Artist.

He was most known as the producer of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, an international, tattoo convention, which brought hundreds of people from Europe, Canada, and the United States to Portland, Maine in mid-February around Valentine’s Day. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party was held for eighteen years with Lou Robbins who ensured everyone enjoyed all activities at each convention.

Louie, as he was known at the Augusta Center for Health & Rehabilitation, was very appreciative of his care he received from the staff during his stay at the Center. The family wishes to add their heartfelt thanks to the administration and staff as well.

Spring internment and a private family ceremony to be announced. Louis’s requested there not be any “fanfair” as he would say. To honor that request, those wishing to donate in his memory may do so at the National Parkinson Foundation online at http://www.parkinson.org/. [as posted on Facebook by Rhea Côté Robbins on 09 January 2014 at 7:02 pm]

Louis I Robbins