DOUG TOBIN PASSES AWAY - A MAN WITH MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

DOUGLAS D. TOBIN UNDERHILL - Douglas Donald Tobin, 84, a lifetime resident of Cambridge and Underhill, went to be with the Lord on the morning of Nov. 27, 2005. He was born in Cambridge, on May 15, 1921, the youngest of eight children of the late Hugh and Anna (Purdy) Tobin. Doug grew up on a small hill farm (Cady Hill) in Cambridge. He attended Cambridge High School, and after his sophomore year, the family moved into Cambridge Village. On October 18, 1939, Doug became a victim of infantile paralysis. It was extremely serious, and Doug became one of the first iron lung patients at the Mary Fletcher Hospital, staying in an iron lung, flat on his back for over six months. In spite of this, Doug was not seriously depressed and always upbeat. Since he had enough credits, he was able to receive his high school diploma in June of 1940. Through fund raising efforts by many in Cambridge and beyond, Doug was able to go to Warm Springs, Ga., for rehabilitation. In an interesting sidelight, while there Doug met President Franklin D. Roosevelt and while an aide pushed his wheelchair past President Roosevelt, the wheel ran over the President's toe. Apparently, no great harm was done. After returning to Cambridge, Doug took a correspondence course in radio repair arranged by the State of Vermont. He started repairing radios in his father's shop and soon had a good repair business. In the fall of 1945, his father purchased a shop and home on Main Street in Cambridge where he soon had a booming repair business, and as soon as television came into the area, he built a large business which would eventually include several trucks and men repairing, selling and installing TVs, radios and many other appliances. Although Doug was in a wheelchair for the rest of his years, he learned how to drive with hand controls, was an avid deer hunter (from his automobile) and shot several deer over the years. In 1950, Doug built a new shop further west on Main Street and in 1958 added a new home on the side of that shop. For several years he was treasurer for the Village of Cambridge. On June 2, 1966, Doug married Marian (Adams) Hutchins, “The love of his life.“ In 1966, Doug sold his business and went to work for IBM in Essex Junction. Both he and Marian worked there until their retirement in 1983. In 1969, Doug moved to Underhill where he and Marian built a beautiful home. Doug enjoyed his retirement years with Marian, doing some traveling and working on the Tobin family genealogy. In addition, he was a member of the Old Vermont Cemetery Association and its treasurer for several years. In spite of a bad auto accident in 1991, in which Doug lost an eye, he remained very upbeat, optimistic, and was an inspiration to all those who had the good fortune to know him. He is survived by his wife, Marian Tobin of Underhill; stepson Jerry Hutchins and his wife, Linda, of Eagle Bridge, N.Y.; two sisters, Jennie McEwing of Essex Junction and Ella Manning of Norwich, Conn.; four grandchildren, two greatgrandchildren, numerous nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by two sisters, May Haskins and Cecile Boyd; and three brothers, Harold, Henry and Harlie. Visiting hours will be held today, Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the A. W. Rich Funeral Home Fairfax Chapel, Fairfax. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. in the Cambridge United Church with the Rev. Craig Benson co-officiating with Pastor Bob Magie of The Essex Alliance Church. Burial will follow in the family lot in Mountain View Cemetery, Cambridge. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Doug's memory may be made to The Visiting Nurse Association, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, Vt. 05446, or to Essex Rescue Squad, 1 Educational Drive, Essex Junction, Vt. 05452. Those who wish may forward their on line condolences by visiting http://www.awrichfuneral-home.com. Arrangements are by John D. Workman of the A. W. Rich Funeral Home, Fairfax Chapel, 1176 Main St., Fairfax, Vt. 05454.