Robin Burr is a bit of a renaissance women whose interests are fascinating and varied. Born in New York, she grew up in South Florida, graduated from Palmetto Senior High School, and attended Miami Dade Community College, studying pre med.
Robin has not wasted her natural creative talents and smarts that are evident in all her activities. From scuba diving, instructing, publishing to Scouting and service club work, Robin does not let any grass grown under her feet.
The author and photographer of two award-winning multimedia products, Coral Collection and Reef Collection, Robin shared her own photographs and research she conducted during decades of underwater studies. Robin and her husband of 34 years manage Quantum Leap Network Inc., named one of the Top 100 Web Developers in the United States by Web Week magazine in 1997.
The couple founded Fisheye View scuba magazine, published by Quantum Leap from 1987 through 1992 when it was sold to Rodale’s Scuba Diving. A member of Nikon Professional Services, Robin’s work has been featured on covers of many magazines including Aquarium Frontiers.
Her photographs of Coral Gables also have appeared on the cover and throughout the pages of City Beautiful magazine, produced by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce where she is an active member.
While her company publishes, The Great Gables Guide, she and hubby also provide a great service sending out a weekly emails to thousands of readers detailing many cultural events, grand openings, book signings, wine tastings, gallery receptions and dozens of interesting events throughout the Gables. In addition, they produce the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, one of the world’s premier international rum events.
Robin broke the mold for PADI scuba instructor in 1987, when woman instructors first entered the sport. As an Emergency First Response Instructor, Robin teaches CPR and Medic First Aid.
A member of the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club since 1999, she has held many positions and helped orchestrate numerous fundraisers for such organizations as Safe Space, Hacienda Girls Ranch and the swim program at Coral Gables Venetian Pool, as well as scholarships for Coral Gables High School students and, most importantly, the in-house Coral Gables Children’s Dental Clinic. Robin was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club from District 11 GFWC Florida in 2014.
Yet another passion of Robin’s has been as an adult member of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 7, a troop started by Coral Gables founder George Merrick in 1922. In a leadership capacity with the troop since 1994, she has broken fills a position typically held by men leading this troop as Scoutmaster and developing during her tenure 20 Eagle Scouts (including her own son).
Robin has worked with others to form the George Merrick Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 that has raised more than $100,000 for major improvements which included replacing the tile roof of their building. She has received numerous awards for her work with the Scouts including the Cuban Royal Palm and the District Award of Merit in 2002 for her creation of Scouting Day and, in 2010, the Exceptional Scouter Award, the highest honor at the district level.
Robin is a member of the Coral Gables Kiwanis Club and has advised the Key Club at Coral Gables High School. She served nine years as the Red Cross Water Safety Instructor for the Venetian Aquatic Club where she currently serves as the club’s 2015-16 president.
Finally, this busy women has volunteered her time over many years to FLAC, the Florida Advocacy Council, with a mission to investigate institutions licensed to safeguard the health, safety, welfare and rights of the clients of those programs.
