Saratoga Springs, NY - Thomas Carl Robbins passed away at Albany Medical Center on Friday, December 18, 2020. Tom was born in Syracuse, NY on April 1, 1957, the oldest son of Frank Townsend Robbins and Janet Baker Robbins.

Tom's almost 40-year career with the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works began in 1978 as a skilled laborer with the Water Department. He later transferred to the City's Street Department where he was a Heavy Equipment Operator. There wasn't a machine he could not operate. He loved his work and it showed. While MaryLou Whitney and the City's DPW Commissioners Brian Dwyer and Tom McTygue worked to bring back the polish and shine to Saratoga's tarnished appearance in the late 70's it was "Tommy" and his co-workers who did the real work of rebuilding the infrastructure and refurbishing some of the gems in decline. Congress Park, the Franklin Square Fountain and the High Rock Spring were among the projects of which Tom was especially proud. Tom also ran a snow plow during the snowstorms of the past 4 decades "with the precision of a surgeon" as once described by an onlooker watching him navigate a narrow side street with the giant plow. You may even have been plowed out by him as you shoveled your driveway simply because you went to grade school together.

He attended St. Peter's Elementary School, Saratoga High School and St. Peter's High School.

Tom was a natural athlete who excelled in the Saratoga Springs youth sports leagues of the 1960's and 1970's including Little League, Biddy Basketball and Pop Warner Football. He played in the Dart Leagues of the 80's & early 90's and was a regular champion in Barney's Dart League.

To his many friends, his family and his co-workers, he was a very funny, kind, and generous man-boy. His struggles got in the way of his own well-being but Tom's sense of humor and sensitive soul endeared him to us and brought us back to support him when he needed us.

Tom is survived by his son, Michael Thomas Robbins (Lauren Iachetta Robbins), his grandson, Vincent Robbins, his sister, Nancy (Ann Leland) Robbins Winn, his brother-in-law, Joseph Winn, his niece, Kathryn Townsend Winn, his nephew, Maxwell Baker Robbins and Max's mother, Maria Frederick (John). In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his brother, Daniel Comerford Robbins, who passed away in March, 2020.

Given the environment in which we are living, a celebration of Tom's life will be held at a later date when we can all gather safely to share our remembrances.

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home of 628 North Broadway (518-584-5373).

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.