Robert Sheldon Dietz (Robbie) of Menemsha, and Warm Springs, Va., died on Oct. 2, after a brief battle with metastatic liver cancer. He was 76.
Robbie attended The Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard (Dunster House, Class of 1972), the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, and the College of Law at the University of Miami, Fla. He rowed crew at all except the University of Miami. He was a maritime lawyer Washington, DC, and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Robbie called himself a “water person” and was happiest when in water or traveling over it. He was an early adapter, learning to surf in the 1960s (often accompanied by his father). He was an avid sailor and was easily recognized whizzing down Menemsha Pond in his Flying Dutchman. When he become older, he begrudgingly bought a clapped out Bertram, which he lovingly restored (although was never really happy being carried around by motors).
When not on the water, he was a avid skier and at one time was number one in the nation in his age group in giant slalom racing.
During a period of federal downsizings, the Coast Guard formally considered closing Station Menemsha and disposing of the property. Robbie was a force in the public outcry, instrumental in organizing public pushback and political advocacy for the station, and recruiting Walter Cronkite to advocate for the station in public meetings.
He was a talented cook and avid reader. He won two Atlanta Monthly Student Writing prizes when a teenager. He was a member of the Edgartown Yacht Club, the Cambridge Boat Club, The Cambridge Skating Club and The Middleburg (VA) Tennis Club.
He is survived by his partner of 36 years, Lynne D. Schwabe of Warm Springs, Va.; his sister Laurie Dietz of Cambridge; and his niece, Sophie Dietz of New York, N.Y.