POLAND SPRING – Melvin Robbins, 80, passed away peacefully Nov. 14, at his home in Poland Spring, with his loving wife, Cyndi and many that adored him by his side. Mel, the owner of the Poland Spring Resort, leaves behind his wife, Cyndi, the love of his life, all of the Poland Spring Resort staff, which he referred to as his “family,” his devoted caregivers, his many wonderful friends, resort guests and golf members of Poland Spring.

He was born in 1927 in Boston, Mass., of poor immigrant parents. His career began at the early age of 14 as a soda jerk. He went on to be an apprentice pharmacist, an apprentice accountant, a credit manager, a furniture salesperson and then a New England land developer.

Upon arriving at Poland Spring in 1972, his original plan called for tearing down the hotels and selling the land for house lots. That first summer, with all the trials and frustrations of managing a large decaying hotel, a life-altering event occurred as he was walking through the Poland Spring House when he heard “the rustle of petticoats.”

The history and tradition of Poland Spring inexorably captured him and he decided this revered piece of Maine and U.S. history would thenceforth be his home. With his nontraditional ideas, he set forth to become the guardian of the state of Maine’s oldest continuous running resort and the oldest resort golf course in the United States.

Many times, he described his era at Poland Spring as the best time of his life. Initially, he leased just the Maine Inn and negotiated a contract including an option to purchase the entire property. That first year, he ran the inn much the same as most hotels and lost most of his money, but he was determined to make it work, so he threw out tradition and revolutionized the way to operate a hotel.

His early days at Poland Spring were full of doing the marketing, buying food needed in the kitchen from local grocery stores, bartending and entertaining guests as a disc jockey, running bingo games and always telling his amusing stories.

He became an “around the clock” entertainer for his guests, and they rewarded him by returning year after year. He was hopelessly “hooked” on the history and heritage of Poland Spring and worked diligently on ways to preserve it. Guests, past employees and neighbors shared stories about “The Hill” and he decided to write a book titled “Poland Spring, An Informal History” in which he shared all of these stories and injected his always-sharp sense of humor.

By 1975, business was thriving, and he fell in love with Cyndi Sievert from Lewiston. On May 4, his birthday, they married. Together they dreamed, planned and hoped to reopen the Poland Spring House. While he was busy negotiating with banks to borrow enough money to renovate the “castle on the hill,” tragedy struck and it burned to the ground on July 3, 1975. He reconfigured his dream. In 1976, he took over operation of the golf course and added his own unique twist for its operation.

He loved to write. He wrote countless “letters to the editor.” Later, he wrote yet another book, “Poland Spring, the Novel” about three different days in the history of Poland Spring in 1861, 1893 and 1927. He also wrote several plays including “A Bed of Sixty Cubits,” “Slan,” “Harry” and others produced at Poland Spring directed by his good friend, David Lock. Everything he wrote, he splashed with humor and he nearly always walked around with a smile on his face.

The genius of his ideas kept Poland Spring alive and in 1982, he and Cyndi bought the property. Together, they began the task of restoration. The cottages, golf course and hotels needed enormous amounts of attention and funds were very limited, but day-by-day and year-by-year, the property flourished. Due to his vision, visitors from all over the United States have enjoyed Poland Spring Resort. He loved what he did and expressed clearly when he said, “Being an innkeeper is such a wonderful job, because the world comes to you” and the world has come.

He said, “The rebirth of Poland Spring has been a thrilling experience for me. Although I am not a very talented person, my years here have given me the opportunity to develop whatever small talents I do have. Someone once said that most people live and die without realizing 90 percent of their potential. I have had the rare opportunity of being challenged every day and I am grateful for the good fortune that brought me here.”

He left a letter to resort guests thanking them for helping make Poland Spring a success. In his bicentennial book, he offered “Special thanks to the Poland Rescue without which we would be in big trouble. Also the Poland Fire Department which has stood by ready to help us in any and all emergencies; and, of course, the wonderful people of Poland who have supported us through the years with their best wishes and help when needed.” He never forgot it was the people, especially the staff, “with their minds and hands and hearts who helped rebuild Poland Spring,” thus assisting him and Cyndi to make Poland Spring what it is today and will continue to be – “where real people can enjoy real food, real clean air and water and heartfelt hospitality.”

He will be remembered for many things, not the least of which was his affectionate, nurturing feelings for “his family” at Poland Spring. The letter he left with funeral wishes was most poignant. His parting words read, “There is no need to mourn me as I have enjoyed a most wonderful and fulfilling lifeespecially the last years with you, Cyndi. Please be grateful and happy for all that we have shared together. I am at peace as I leave you with a “family” to love and who all love you. Farewell.”

He is survived by his wife, Cyndi Robbins; sister-in-law, Margaret Ann and husband, Marvin Baumgartner; nieces, Lynn Brokel and family, Leigh Swaney and family and Laura Watson.

He was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Sarah Rubinsky.