GREENE – Robin Taylor Neal, 61, of Greene, passed away at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston on Monday, October 29, 2018 from congestive heart failure. Born in Sandusky, Ohio, July 6, 1957, to Joseph M. and JoAnn H. Taylor, Robin was raised in Milan, Ohio and graduated from Edison High School in 1975. She attended The Ohio State University and earned degrees in sociology and social studies education, graduating in 1979. It was there that she met her future husband, John Neal; after graduation she joined him in Maine and they were married in 1980. Robin worked first as a counselor at the Aroostook Mental Health Center in Limestone, and then as a high school social studies teacher at Van Buren District Secondary School.
In 1983 the Neals moved to Storrs, Connecticut, where Robin received a Master’s degree in human development and family therapy in 1985 from the University of Connecticut. Returning to Maine, she worked first as a counselor for Johnson Associates and then opened her own practice in marriage therapy, culminating in her founding of the Couples Conference and Counseling Center in Auburn; she took great joy in supporting healthy relationships, and deeply valued the trust which her clients placed in her over the years. She was a member of Maine Family Therapy Association and served in several leadership roles in that organization over the years.
Robin was a very capable canoeist and took many family canoe camping trips around Maine, including the Fish River Chain, the West Branch of the Penobscot, and three trips down the Allagash among many others. One of her favorite paddling destinations, however, was Center Bridge on the Androscoggin River in Turner. In more recent years, she obtained her motorcycle license and rode her Honda scooter all over Maine, the northeast and Atlantic Canada, taking multi-day trips to Montpelier, VT; Prince Edward Island; and Nova Scotia, including the famed Cabot Trail. She had completed the first leg of the “Four Corners of Maine” tour just three weeks ago.
In the past two years she took up golf and enjoyed the game at Springbrook Golf Club in Leeds, where she greatly valued the friendships she made in the ladies’ league. She was a dedicated violist and loved to play music of the Baroque composers. One of her greatest joys was her grandchildren, Jaxon and Layla, and she delighted in spending time with them.
Robin is survived by her devoted husband, John Neal of Greene; daughter Leslie Mersch and son-in-law Michael Mersch of Milford, OH and daughter Allison Neal and partner Miguel Elmore of Greene; her mother, JoAnn Taylor of Leesburg, FL; her mother-in-law, Joan Neal of Auburn; two sisters, Vicki Taylor and her husband Mark Hooker of Niskayuna, NY and Kelly Monroe and her husband John Guseman of Leesburg, FL; brother Joseph Taylor and his wife Sandy of Huron, OH; brother –in-law Peter Neal and his wife Dara of Minot; grandson Jaxon Neal of Greene and granddaughter Layla Robin Mersch of Milford, OH; nieces Madison and Prim, and nephews Jonathan and Mark; aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. She was predeceased by her father in 2017.
The family would like to express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to the staff at CMMC cardiac ICU for the outstanding compassionate care which we received.You are invited to offer condolences and pay tribute to Robin’s life by visiting her guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com
Visitation will be held at the Fortin Group, Auburn on Friday November 2 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm and a celebration of Robin’s life will be held on Saturday November 3 at 11 AM, also at the funeral home. Those wishing to make memorial donations in her memory may do so to The Maine Arts Academy8 Goldenrod #100 Sidney, ME 04330. Arrangements are under the care of The Fortin Group/Plummer & Merrill Funeral Home, Cremation & Monument Services 217 Turner St. Auburn, ME 04210.
