Obituary of Arthur Collins, Sr.

Early on the morning of Saturday, September 3, 2005, Arthur Collins died peacefully at his home in Wilton, CT after a hard fought battle with cancer. Born July 3, 1929, he was the son of Arthur and Delphine Collins of Darien, CT, where he lived for 65 years on Goodwives River. He attended Hindley School and Middlesex Junior High before attending Kent School in 8th grade. After graduating from the Kent School in 1948 and Princeton University in 1952, he spent two years in the Navy and then obtained his Masters in Architecture in 1956, also from Princeton. Thereupon he commenced a long and distinguished career in real estate development, beginning in New York at Collins-Tuttle. In 1969, Mr. Collins founded Collins Development in Stamford. Starting with his first project, Lyon Farm in Greenwich, the firm quickly developed a reputation for excellence and innovation, guided by his keen eye for appropriate reuse of waterfront property and historic preservation. The development of Harbor Plaza along the east branch of Stamford Harbor, the redevelopment of downtown Princeton at Palmer Square and the redevelopment of historic South Norwalk, known as Sono, are Collins projects which helped create Mr. Collins' reputation in the real estate industry around New York. Arthur Collins had a lifelong love for the sea and sailing and a passionate interest in maritime history. He was a member of Noroton Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club, and an accomplished seaman who spent many summers cruising the waters from Long Island Sound to Maine and Newfoundland, on the famous Murray Peterson Schooner 'Defiance' with family and friends. He became a member of the Schooner Society and raced in many classic wooden boats races from Eggomogin Reach to The Mayors Cup Race at South Street Seaport in New York City. He also paraded with the Tall Ships in 1984 from New York to Toronto, Canada. Ice hockey was another of his great passions, from early days skating on Gorham's Pond in Darien. He spent many years skating as a member of the New Canaan Winter Club and the Darien Winter Club. Along with his lifelong friends Harold Dean and Ron Repp and others, he played on many teams from the Darien Hornets in the 60's to the over 70 Men's teams competing in tournaments in the U.S. and Canada. He was also a member of Wee Burn Country Club and The Old Timers Association of Darien where he received a Sportsman Award in 2004. Mr. Collins was generous with his expertise. He was a trustee at Kent School where he chaired the Building Committee. In 2004 Mr. Collins together with his business partner, Tom Golden, redeveloped the Darien Playhouse, allowing the town of Darien to retain an active movie theater. Mr. Collins is survived by his wife Judith Ann Paixao Collins and his stepson Benjamin Coutler both of Wilton. He is also survived by his first wife Joan Collins of Darien and their three children Arthur Collins of Darien, Dwight Collins of Darien and Merrill Collins of Norwalk. Also surviving him is his brother Hunt Collins of Burlington, VT; nieces Carrie Collins of Washington, DC and Libby Aslan of Golden, CO; and his nephew Charles Collins of Washington, CT. He was a loving grandfather to Morgan, Kathleen, Hillary, Patrick, Finlay, Mairead and Caitlin Collins, and a loving great uncle to Elizabeth Collins, Eliza Collins and Stuart and Olivia Aslan. Services were held on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at St. Joseph's Chapel, Kent School, Kent, CT. Services were led by Richardson Scholl, headmaster and rector. Interment followed at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien. A memorial service was held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Darien on Monday, September 12, 2005. In lieu of flowers donations in Arthur's name may be made to Our Little Roses Ministries Foreign Mission Society, Inc., a home for abused and abandoned girls in Honduras, address P. O. Box 464, Somerset, VA 22972 or Kent School, P. O. Box 2006, Kent, CT 06757. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820