Levittown native Doug Robins, 58, lost a brave battle to brain cancer on Monday, Feb. 12 with family and friends by his side.

Robins worked in the Levittown School District for 30 years and served as the Division Avenue High School athletic director and head varsity baseball coach.

DAHS Principal Kathleen Valentino said Robins touched everyone he met.

"He was not only an amazing coach; he was a very special person who will be sorely missed at DAHS," she added. "Coach Robins was the epitome of a teacher who taught us all how to face adversity with dignity, and his family showed us the perfect example of loved ones standing by each other through the toughest of times."

Armando D'Accordo, a MacArthur High School parent, knew Robins through school sports.

"Doug was an institution at DAHS and a respected name in the school district," he said. "He spent his time teaching athletes to not only be good at their sport, but to be good sports and better people. Any coach would be honored to garner half the respect and admiration that Doug has earned over the years."

Legislator Dennis Dunne, Sr., a Levittown resident, said this is a terrible loss for Levittown and the baseball community. Dunne was a boys' soccer coach at LMHS while Robins was the baseball coach.

"The guy was so genuine and was loved by everybody," he added. "Every time you saw him he had a smile on his face and when you'd walk away from talking to him you would be smiling too."

After substitute teaching in Levittown for three years, Robins became a physical education teacher in 1978 at Levittown Memorial High School. In 1983 he moved to Division when LMHS closed. In 1991 he became the chairperson of physical education at DAHS. Robins was a coach at both high schools. He led DAHS to the New York State Championships twice in 1984 and 1996, NYS Final Four seven times, Long Island Champions seven times and Nassau County Champions nine times.

However, Robins' roots are planted even deeper in Levittown. After graduating from Levittown Memorial High School and attending Nassau Community College in the late 1960s, Robins signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. He was released after one year and in 1972 became involved with Stan Musial Baseball, a league of ex-professional and collegiate players. He played for the Levittown Giants. While playing for the Levittown Giants, the team ranked second in the nation in 1975, won the National Championship in 1977 and ranked fourth in the nation in 1978. The Levittown Giants team folded in 1979, however Robins continued on to play with a different team.

In a moving ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 DAHS dedicated its varsity baseball field to Coach Doug Robins.

Robins is survived by his wife, Kathleen, children Douglas Robins (Meredith), Todd Bolognese (Marcella), Stephen Robins (Megan) and Beth Bolognese, grandchildren Alexandra, Christian, Ryan and Julianna and siblings Jackie Robins and Patty Robins.

Robins was entombed at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury on Feb. 16. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Levittown Diamond Club, c/o Abbate Demarinis, LLP, 377 Oak St., Suite 209, Garden City, NY 11530.