Submitted
Paul Robbins
By Ned Dyer
Paul Robbins, a.k.a. Fat Paul, a.k.a. Pablo, a.k.a. Paco, passed away April 28, 2015 in Florida. Robbins came to Killington from Point Pleasant, N.J., with a spirit and a zest for life that was unbridled. He was a mixologist’s mixologist with boundless creativity. His signature drink was the Goombay Smash, which he brought back from one of his trips to the Bahamas. He didn’t create the Goombay, but tweaked it a bit, it became unquestionably Killington’s most popular cocktail. Early on, Robbins and I made a pact that I wouldn’t serve his Goombay and he wouldn’t duplicate my Bloody Mary. To this day I’ve never served a Goombay, although I have used his Banana Fudge “cycle,” and I regret not getting his recipe for the Potted Plum. You know, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Pablo actually drink a Goombay.
After a particularly frigid February, Robbins and I took a ride over to the outlet stores in Cahoes, N.Y., to pick up some summer duds for an up-coming trip to Florida. We planned to stop in to see Bobby and Michele Giordano in Saratoga for dinner. As it turned out Bobby had to work and after a couple of Slivavitzes at a local watering hole we three, Michele, Robbins and I, jetted off to Puerto Rico for dinner. With Robbins it seemed like the natural thing to do.
On another occasion we were on a cruise ship to Bermuda with the Killington Bachelors Society (17 of Killington’s most eligible bachelors) and Robbins noticed that when one of the guests had a birthday the waitstaff would sing at the table. Pablo Robbins, being the self appointed choral director of the Killington Bachelor’s Society, decided the staff needed back-up, so on a nightly basis we went to the appropriate table and sang “HOPPY BIRSDAY TO YOU” to the delight of the other passengers.
Pablo Robbins loved to dress up. Any excuse was a good excuse and he did it with such panache … the Cat Fish Derby, the Gadsby Party, the Easter Parade, the BIG Classic or just to have some fun. He was outstanding as Grand Marshall of the Tricycle Race as Henry VIIIand his many wives.
Frank Chase and I were reminiscing the other day and we determined that right now Pablo Robbins is goading Tuna into a high stakes backgammon game while trying to convince KB to lower his prices and chiding Danny McKeever for not stocking enough Apple Jack as Frizzy is preparing him a Steak AuPoivre Henry VIII, all the while sipping an Apple Jack and soda, double lime. Meanwhile Billy Roberts and Don Gray are getting primed for the music fest at the Tunbridge Fair and Chet “The Jet” Warman is warming up the van to shuttle the crew. Teddy Bridges, Joe Heff, Joe Smith and Billy Shea have left for the track and John 00 and Franco are having a heated discussion as to who has the perfect golf swing. 00 found another pair of those infamous Sportif short shorts so he’s in heaven.
Now ain’t that a picture no artist could paint?
