Orem Robbins

Orem Olford Robbins
February 5, 1915 - May 1, 2017


Orem Robbins was a big man. At six feet four inches in height, back when that was rare, he was imposing physically whenever he entered a room, but that wasn't what made him big. It was his big heart. Whoever was with him felt like the most important person in the world. It was his big vision. He thought there was nothing that was impossible and made others believe that too. It was his big smile. His positive outlook was undiminished by age and adversity. At the age of 101 when he needed help with so much of his daily routine, I asked him if he was getting tired of the effort. He replied, "Every day is a challenge... but I like a challenge. He was a big, big man.
Born in Minneapolis, to Douglas Ford Robbins and Grace Rorem Robbins, he was the second of three children. His given name was a version of his mother's maiden name Rorem with the "R" deleted, and a combination of Ole and Ford for his middle name. His older sister Helen lived to 104 and his younger sister Genevieve well into her late eighties. He tells of one trip with his sisters out to the M & St. L railroad tracks near Cedar Lake. The grain hopper cars on the way to the mills would spill some of the wheat as they rounded a sharp curve. They would pick up the spilled grain and take it home to their mother who would make flour and then bread for the family. It was experiences like these that helped form two key aspects of his character that were on display the rest of his life: The iron willpower to rise above his circumstance of the moment; and the commitment to live happily within his means whatever that level was.
He became an Eagle Scout. He learned lessons in scouting that stayed with him forever and supported the scouting movement until the end of his life. He attended the University of Minnesota graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor in Business Administration, Later, going to school at night while working every day and raising a family; he got his Bachelor of Law degree and Juris Doctor. Ultimately he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.
Upon graduation from the U of M in 1936, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Ordered to active duty in 1941, he went to the Harbor Defense of LA then to the Coast Artillery School at Ft. Monroe, Virginia. He then spent a year overseas in the pacific working on General McArthur's staff in the Philippines and when he was released from active duty in 1946 he returned to Minneapolis. Ending his active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel, he stayed in the reserves for another 20 years finishing his service in 1966 as a full Colonel. For his extraordinary service he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the nation's second highest service award.
After the war, Orem started in the life insurance business as an agent for Connecticut General and as was his way, quickly set out to become the best at what he did achieving the designation Chartered Life Underwriter, and becoming a member of the Million Dollar Round Table which was based on sales performance - placing a million dollars of life insurance during a single year. That might not seem like much today, but this was back when the common amount for a policy was $10, 000 so it meant a hundred new customers a year... no small feat. And then added honors came: National Quality Awards for year after year, Chartered Financial Consultant and Principal with the National Association of Securities Dealers.
In May 1956, he started the first life insurance company that had been chartered in the state of Minnesota in over 30 years - Security Life Insurance Company of America. From the humble beginnings of a 10' X 20' office with two used desks funded by personal savings and loans from friends, Security Life became a major player in both the life insurance and health insurance fields. Ultimately, it grew into a multifaceted financial services company called Security American Financial Enterprises or SAFE. Ultimately, after sixty years of service, he stepped down and the company was sold. He was also President of Life Insurance Leaders of Minnesota and Minneapolis chapter of Chartered Life Underwriters.
Not only Chairman of SAFE, Orem became chairman of the Methodist Hospital Foundation, raising enormous capital for the hospital and donating a sculpture out in front of joyous children playing, and the Chairman of the board of Hamline University, where the Orem O. Robbins Science Center resides. He was a life member of the board and president of Family and Children's Services and member of the board and Treasurer of Goodwill Industries. He maintained a parallel track with his business efforts and community service efforts throughout his distinguished career. Until the end of his life he sponsored a scholarship to Hamline for Eagle Scout applicants each year.
Finding hope for solutions to our toughest human problems, he always looked forward to a better tomorrow with a faith that our best is yet to come. He supported a family in Kenya for over 20 years and had such a powerful influence that they named their son Orem.
He dreamed of things that seemed too big to most, then set progressively higher goals until the dreams became reality. He was indeed a big man.
The best summary of his life is the simple embroidered sign in his apartment that said:
Orem O Robbins
Gentleman

Memorial Service 10AM Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis. Visitation beginning at 9:30AM. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery