Robert L. Lewin, an American visionary, internationally recognized art publishing pioneer and much loved founder of Mill Pond Press, died July 12, 2007, in Sarasota, FL. He was 96.
Formerly of Rye, NY, and Sarasota, FL, he is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mill Pond co-founder Katherine (“Katie,” NY), daughter, Laurie Lewin Simms (MT, FL), son, Dick Lewin (wife Margot, NH), and three grandchildren, Amanda Simms Archer (CO), Adam Simms (CA) and Barrett Simms (FL), and a sister, Annette Lewin Bodner (TX).
The American philosopher William James wrote, “The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” There is simply no way to estimate how many lives Robert Lewin has and will continue to influence for the better by his own life well spent. His lasting legacy to the causes of art and conservation is immeasurable and ongoing.
Born February 17, 1911, in Grand Rapids, MI, Robert Lewin grew up in Chicago, IL, and was a lifelong nature lover. He was an Eagle Scout, and that provided a special springboard into nature for him in his early years. He remained deeply committed to conservation, long before the cause came into vogue. Mill Pond Press in Venice, FL, the company he founded in 1973, grew to become a world leader in the publication of limited edition fine art prints depicting a broad range of subjects, most notably, wildlife art. This venture coupled his appreciation of art with his profound love of nature.
Because of this man, millions came to discover the pleasure of owning art, especially the finest wildlife art available. Thanks to his tireless efforts and expansive vision, more than $10 million was raised for conservation organizations through the sale of special fund-raising editions that aided The World Center for Birds of Prey/Peregrine Fund, The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Habitat Canada, The National Wildlife Federation and many others.
Mill Pond Press began ostensibly as a retirement project when Robert Lewin was 62, something that he and his wife could do on a part-time basis. He had written a letter to a friend in 1973, outlining his intentions: “I plan to get a small three-room office, probably in Venice, [FL] and will probably have a half-time secretary and go to the office from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., every day or some days.” It quickly became a consuming interest.
Robert and Katie Lewin believed that they could transform original paintings into beautiful limited edition prints, without compromising the integrity of the original paintings. And they did just that. They began by publishing the wildlife paintings of two dear friends, the late Dr. Roger Tory Peterson, America's most-honored artist/naturalist, and Maynard Reece, the only five-time winner of the Federal duck stamp competition. Their idea met with great success, their “part-time” company grew rapidly, and soon, art lovers the world over collected prints by Peterson and Reece, in addition to luminaries such as Robert Bateman, Carl Brenders, Paul Calle, Guy Coheleach, Peter Ellenshaw, Nita Engle, Fred Machetanz and many others.
Retirement would have to wait many more years, as Robert Lewin continued to work well into his 80s with irrepressible good humor and an unwavering sense of dedication. Looking back, he once recalled: “We never realized that the company was growing the way it did. We were just busy. We were happy with what we were doing. It never seemed to be work….”
In 1990 the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, WY, (formerly the Wildlife of the American West Art Museum) honored Robert Lewin with the prestigious Rungius Medal for his outstanding lifetime contributions in promoting awareness of wildlife and the habitat necessary for its survival. In 1982, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, WI, recognized him with the LYWAM Service Award for his “considerable and unselfish contributions to bird art and for his generous and unwavering support.” In bestowing this honor at its annual “Birds in Art” exhibition, the Museum noted that he was an especially appropriate recipient, expressing, “This exhibition would not be what it is today without the help of Robert L. Lewin.” In addition to his many honors and awards, Robert Lewin was a founding trustee of The Roger Tory Peterson Institute and an emeritus member of The Explorers Club of New York. U.S. Art magazine named the Lewins “Pioneering Publishers” in 1994.
Among many notable career achievements, he and his wife founded Springbok Editions, a very successful company that revolutionized the world of jigsaw puzzles by introducing fine museum art, including work by Jackson Pollock, as puzzle subjects. They also introduced puzzles in a round format with exceptional quality standards. The Lewins commissioned notable artists of international fame including Salvador Dali. Hallmark acquired Springbok in 1967, although the Lewins managed it until 1969, when they “retired.” The Association of Game and Puzzle Collectors recognized their contributions in 2004 by presenting the Lewins with the Spilsbury Award.
Robert Lewin served his country as a First Lieutenant in the U.S Army Counter Intelligence Service. He had a sales background in high quality commercial offset printing for large corporations and conservation organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation whom he assisted with their Stamp Program. It remains an important source of funding for the Federation to this day. He served as vice-president of the Brett Lithographing Company in Long Island City, NY, Niagara Lithographing Company in Buffalo, NY, and Walker Press, Paris, Ontario.
During this period, Robert Lewin also founded Tested Recipe Institute, operated from the penthouse at 42nd and Fifth in New York City, known as the Kitchen in the Clouds. Together with his home economists, he published a line of cookbooks, including a best-selling barbeque book.
Throughout his career, whenever questions arose as how best to proceed, Robert Lewin always opted for the choice that assured the finest results, regardless of scheduling or budget constraints. While at the helm of Mill Pond Press he is most remembered for his uncompromising integrity and absolute insistence on quality.
His interests were many and varied, and he possessed an undiminished enthusiasm for life as well as a boundless imagination. He was once overheard telling an artist, “You have the imagination of a fourteen-year-old, and I mean that as a compliment.”
A self-made man who rubbed elbows with princes and presidents, he remained selfless. Robert Lewin was a model of success in so many undertakings and was, above all, modest. Although he referred to himself as Bob Lewin, even his contemporaries often referred to him as “Mr. Lewin,” a sign of the admiration and respect he engendered.
His generosity was legendary and his joie de vivre contagious. When he enjoyed something, he would share it with all around him. (He once flew his entire Mill Pond staff of more than 50 to Washington, D.C., to see a Robert Bateman exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution.) He ordered cases of favorite books to share with his artists, and cases of ice cream to share with his employees whenever he had the urge for chocolate. An avid reader, he especially enjoyed business histories and his daily companion, The New York Times. An eager and tireless traveler to every corner of the globe, he once described his wanderlust as having “sand in my shoes.” If he declared something was “the best in the world,” no one could dispute him.
Those things that delighted him (and there were many) he hailed as “absolutely marvelous!” In that category fell all things chocolate, a local Florida restaurant that made his favorite hamburger (“the best in the world!”), travel, his family, chocolate, beautiful art, talented artists, chocolate, cloud formations, his friends, his beloved dog Rusty, even his coronary bypass (he would pop his shirt open, point to his scar and exclaim, “Look what they can do! Isn’t it absolutely marvelous?”).
Friends who loved him (and those who fall into that category are innumerable) will never forget the twinkle in his ageless blue eyes. Recalling cherished memories of this most beloved man, they are of one accord as they celebrate his full life, saying, “Look at all he did! Isn’t it ‘absolutely marvelous’?”
Services for Robert Lewin will be private. Condolences may be sent to the Lewin family c/o Mill Pond Press, 310 Center Court, Venice, FL 34285. Cards will be distributed by Mill Pond Press to all of the Lewin Family. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations in memory of Robert L. Lewin to The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709.