Robin Gianopoulos – 1/16/29 – 12/11/14

by Amy Fernandez

Carefully crafted bloodlines are the bedrock of breed type. They are nurtured over the course of countless canine and human generations, and stamped with the personal convictions of dedicated breeders. The dog world lost another source of this rare commodity on December 11, 2014 when Robin Gianopoulos lost her long courageous battle with cancer. Founded in 1954, her Stonybrook Dachshunds rank among those perennial contributors to the consistency and quality that sustains our pride in purebred dogs.

Robin was born January 16, 1929 in Hillside, New Jersey, grew up in nearby Summit, and made her home in Stony Brook, Long Island. She bred generations of Stonybrook Longhairs while raising three children and working full-time at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s nuclear research reactors.  After 30 years there Robin retired in 1996, three years before Brookhaven’s nuclear research program ended. Ironically, economic concerns prompted the closing of its reactors, rather than the discovery that spent fuel tanks had leaked radioactive isotopes for at least 12 years.

If anything, her life became more demanding after retirement. Her passion for dogs constantly focused her energy and determination in new directions.  Many of her plans seemed overwhelming, but she accomplished them. Her ambition to travel and do more shows was just the start. After more than 40 years in standard longhairs, she added miniature smooths to her breeding program. And as if by magic, the unmistakable integrity, style, and head type that defined Stonybrook longhairs became the hallmark of her miniatures.

She also launched them as media stars. Stonybrook Dachshunds appeared in countless print ads, films, and television shows such as 30 Rock, Conan O’Brien, and Saturday Night Live. Their rare combination of stamina, personality, and beauty also made them incomparable pets. Scores of satisfied customers returned for a second, third, or fourth Stonybrook Dachshund, often becoming good friends along the way.

Her knowledge and insight made her beloved and respected throughout the dog world, especially to those lucky enough to have her as mentor. That could be rough.

Genuine, perceptive, and forthright, she understood the breed like a soulmate and nothing infuriated her more than seeing the standard misinterpreted or misunderstood.

She possessed that rare ability put the flaws into perspective and appreciate the breed as a package deal. The Dachshund is a complicated breed, but Robin made it sound easy as she explained.  “Volumes have been written about the importance of breeding a sound dog. But achieving soundness is easy in comparison to proper type. This is what the dedicated breeder strives for.”  She demanded functionality from her dogs, but realized that it wasn’t the whole story.  “Excellent temperament is often overlooked as a breeding priority…a good Dachshund must have a suitable temperament to be an enjoyable pet and companion between hunting expeditions.”

The drive and dedication that defined her passion for dogs also characterized her response to cancer. Despite setbacks and complications she never conceded defeat. If anything, it fueled her bitter resentment for this theft of her time and energy. Sadly, Robin left many unfinished projects, but her family ensured that her dogs were with her to the end.

She is survived by her loving children George, Gail, and David and grandchildren Jason, Rachel, Chris, Tristen, Cory, Alex, Ana, and Avery. A memorial service for her will take place in Port Jefferson next spring.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=66808

Posted by chesliepickett on Dec 24 2014. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.