Des Moines Rugby Family loses longtime coach.

David Robinson died Friday, February 3, 2012. A Memorial Mass will be offered Tuesday, February 7, 2p.m., at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Parish and Student Center, 1150 28th St, Des Moines.

David was born on January 13, 1929, in Larne, N. Ireland, the third of four children of David and Mary Agnes (Greer) Robinson. He was educated at Larne Grammar Secondary School and earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics at Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland, and his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

He had a passion for teaching and mentoring students and received many awards for excellence during his career. Over forty years, David served as a Professor of Physics at the University of Southern California (1958-1964), the University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario (1964-1968), and Drake University from 1968 until retirement in 1998. In addition, he was a founding member of St. Catherine's, a longtime coach of the Des Moines Rugby Club, and Education Officer for the Des Moines Power and Sail Squadron.

He married Ellen (Nellie) Mannion of Galway, Ireland in 1959, and they were blessed with four children, Maura (Bradley Leach), Deirdre (Douglas Bland), David (Sherry Hoffman) and Evelyn (Christopher Avery) and six grandchildren, Eleanor and Peter Bland and Georgia, Alexa, Porter, and Garrett Avery. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Hester, many nieces, nephews and other relatives in Ireland, England and close friends in many states and countries.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Emergency Food Pantry.