Baldwin athletic program mourns loss of longtime bus driver

James Robbins never married, had no children, and didn't have many close relatives. But friends at the Baldwin School District say "Jimmy" became part of the Baldwin sports family for hundreds of athletes, whom he bused to and from games for over 30 years. Robbins died of pancreatic cancer at age 61.

"He didn't just drop you off ... he got to know you," said Mike Palumbo, who currently coaches Baldwin soccer. "Jimmy did everything with us. He was part of the team."

Unlike many bus drivers, who typically get a bite to eat or read a newspaper while waiting for teams to finish their games, Robbins could be seen on the sidelines, as much a fan of Baldwin sports as anyone in the bleachers. Even on the bus, before and after games, friends say Robbins would be chatting up the athletes — whether it be congratulating them on a win or helping to lift their spirits after a tough loss.

Indeed, when asked if it was rare for a driver and a team to have such a close relationship, Baldwin athletic director Ed Ramirez said "I've never seen anything like it."

"He really took an interest in the kids, not just in their athletic career, but them as people," Ramirez said, adding that Robbins knew all the names of the athletes and coaches. "He became really almost like one of the coaches. He was definitely a member of the program."

Palumbo recalled that Robbins volunteered to help chaperone a Hofstra soccer game that Palumbo took his team to a few years ago. That same night, Robbins went out to dinner with the team. And three years ago, Robbins was invited to Baldwin's varsity banquet, where he was honored and presented with a plaque in appreciation of all he had done for Baldwin.

Robbins, who lived in Long Beach, stopped driving a couple of months ago because of his battle with pancreatic cancer. And though no relatives were present at his wake at Towers in Oceanside, his family of Baldwin coaches and athletes were there to say goodbye.

"It a loss to us a program," Palumbo said. "It's a loss to us as an influence to the kids. Losing Jimmy was a huge loss for the Baldwin district."