14103724D Patrons-- Hope, Brink, Krupicka and Lopez; Senators: Ebbin, Favola and Howell WHEREAS, Robert G. Atkins, a longtime civic activist for Arlington county, died on December 9, 2013; and WHEREAS, a native of Auburn, New York, Robert "Bob" Atkins received his bachelor's degree from American University and his master's degree from the University of Kentucky; and WHEREAS, working for the federal government, Bob Atkins relocated to Arlington in 1976 and remained there for the rest of his life; his love for Arlington was truly evident in the work he performed as a civic activist for the community; and WHEREAS, upon his retirement, Bob Atkins became a founding member, and later the president, of the Stonewall Jackson Citizen's Association, now known as the Bluemont Civic Association, and served as their representative at the Arlington County Civic Federation; and WHEREAS, Bob Atkins also served as a founding member of Virginia Organizations Responding to AIDS (VORA) and was listed as their first donor; and WHEREAS, advocating on behalf of Virginians living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Bob Atkins attended AIDS Awareness Day at the General Assembly every year since the 1990s; and WHEREAS, a fixture at the Arlington County Board, Bob Atkins attended almost every board meeting beginning in 1995, earning the respect of the members and the community for his tireless dedication to issues affecting the county and the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, predeceased by his father, Robert, and his brother Ronald, Bob Atkins will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his mother, Julia; and many other family members, friends, and the community of Arlington County; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of longtime civic activist for Arlington County, Robert G. Atkins; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Robert G. Atkins as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory. |