Albin Alexander Collins' Obituary
Albin Alexander Collins of Bay Ridge, Annapolis passed away peacefully in his home on the morning of April 20th surrounded by family. He was 85.
Albin was born in Lwow, Poland in 1932 to parents Pauline and Alexander, his childhood was spent escaping the turmoil of World War II. In 1939, Albin and his mother were seized, along with several hundred other people as political prisoners. They were put aboard a train for a slave camp deep in Russia. After Polish underground intercepted the train, Albin and his mother escaped to live in hiding for several weeks. Mother and son returned home but were then captured by the German occupation army and sent to a prison camp at Buchenberg and Hannover. Albin’s father, a soldier in the Polish army, had previously been taken prisoner by the Germans and was imprisoned in unknown military camp. After the war, the Red Cross managed to locate Albin’s father. The allies liberated in the camps in 1945 and with the help of the Catholic National Welfare Organization the reunited Szpilowski family was brought to the United States of America in November 1950.
A Polish immigrant who rallied from three desperate years in German labor camp and finished his high school education. Albin went to prep school in Hannover, than to Hamburg Polish High for four years. After completing his high school education at Montgomery Blair High School in Takoma Park, Maryland. Albin went to work for the Star newspaper in June 1951 and promptly won the paper’s four year scholarship to George Washington University in Washington DC for journalism and political science and history. While attending university, Albin met the love of his life, Dorothy G. Drake. Albin served in the United States Marine Corps Service Armed Forces of The United States from 1952 to 1955, he made Corporal of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines.
He married Dorothy in October of 1959 and started a family with the addition of three children, Richard, Gregory and Paul. They raised their family in Chevy Chase, MD before moving to Bay Ridge in Annapolis. Both Albin and Dorothy served their country as civil servants for the United States in Washington DC. Albin worked 30 years for The Library of Congress. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans as well as being active in the National Association of Atomic Veterans and Retired Federal Employees Association, and the Admirals Annapolis Yacht Club. He loved tennis, sailing on the bay, dancing, photography, traveling, helping others in need and always enjoyed a good time with family and friends.
Albin A. Collins is survived by his dear and loving family: his wife, Dorothy; three sons, Richard, Gregory and Paul; daughters in law, Elizabeth, Susan and Dana; and four grandchildren, Britt, Becca, Alex and Brennen. Also, Joanne, and many other friends and family. His kindness and respect will be sorely missed, but carried forward.
A visitation will be held on Monday, May 1, 2017 at Lasting Tributes 814 Bestgate Rd. Annapolis, MD from 6pm to 8pm. A prayer service will be that evening at 8pm. The following morning a private committal will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
What’s your fondest memory of Albin?
What’s a lesson you learned from Albin?
Share a story where Albin's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Albin you’ll never forget.
How did Albin make you smile?
