Remembering Robin Lang
It is with a heavy heart that Oley staff shares the sad news that Robin Lang,
long time Oley volunteer and friend to many, passed away yesterday, April 15.
Those who knew Robin will quickly recall her quick smile and welcoming hugs. She
took new Oley members under her wing and made them feel special. She shared her
stories and experiences with everyone. She was the life of every gathering.
Robin started as a volunteer for the Lifeline Foundation (Lee & Marshall
Koonin's organization. Lee died this year too.) Robin volunteered as an Oley
Regional Coordinator for 25 years, lending her support and wisdom to hundreds in
this capacity. She made friends will all of them. She played "Peaches the Clown"
at early Oley gatherings, began the Sunshine Group which provided cards and
letters to Oley members who were in the hospital or going through a tough time.
She and Barb Klingler initiated the "Friends of Oley" scholarship that
conference attendees donated to, and the money was pooled together to support a
travel scholarship for a consumer to attend the next year's conference. She
co-chaired the Oley conference in Boston in 2000, one of the best meetings ever.
Robin was the recipients of many awards which includes the Oley
LifelineLetter Award, the Celebration of Life Award, and the Lenore Heaphey
Award for Grassroots Efforts. She spoke at many clinical conferences for Oley --
to teach clinicians what it's like to really live on HPN, and tell them about
the services Oley offers consumers. She wrote articles for the LifelineLetter
(the Oley newsletter), she staffed the toll-free lines in an effort to share
experiences and better the lives of those who followed in her footsteps. She did
whatever you asked her to do, and then some… never asking for anything in
return! That was the beauty of knowing and working with Robin.
Sing, dance, rest in peace, Robin. We miss you.