Helene Torrey "Robin" Allaire

Helene Torrey “Robin” Allaire, of Great Falls, passed away at the age of 91 at a local care facility on April 25, 2022, after nearly a decade of living with Alzheimer's Disease. She survived COVID in 2020. Robin was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 19, 1930, to Dr. Frank and Helene McPhail. Robin attended Great Falls public schools and graduated from Great Falls High in 1948. She attended the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Education. After graduating, she taught elementary school near Detroit and Ann Arbor. Robin and Francis John “Jack” Allaire met at the University of Michigan. They were married in Great Falls in 1953, and lived in Ann Arbor for Jack's last year of medical school, followed by Ft. Knox, Kentucky for two years where Jack served in the Army Medical Corps. They returned to Ann Arbor for a few years before moving to Great Falls in 1961, where Jack joined Robin's father, Frank, at the Great Falls Clinic. Jack and Robin had four children, Elizabeth, Martha, John, and Catherine. Robin served her community through the Junior League of Great Falls, The League of Women Voters, Great Falls Civ-Aires, Montana and American Medical Association Alliances, Preservation Cascade, Montana Public Radio, Forward Great Falls, and the American Red Cross serving military families and sitting on the board of directors. Robin and Jack tutored first grade students for two decades at Mountain View Elementary school. Robin never missed an event involving her kids and grandkids. She had a quick, dry, wit and always enjoyed a laugh. She had a strong sense of fairness and justice. From the time she was young, Robin was active in horse-related activities. She and her daughters showed Quarter Horses, and she served on the boards of directors of the Triangle and Montana Quarter Horse Associations. She trained all of the family dogs to behave themselves and to do tricks. She was a talented quilter, gardener, and photographer. She belonged to the Great Falls Camera Club, where she combined her photography skills with the love of travel that she and Jack shared. She enjoyed capturing images of animals and people of all cultures, especially children. Robin and Jack traveled to 40 countries and six continents. Robin is survived by her husband, Dr. Jack Allaire; Robin's sister, Janet Barstow of Decatur, GA; four children, Elizabeth (Michael) Best of Great Falls, Martha (Jeffrey) Watson of Gilbert, AZ, John (Patricia) Allaire of Liberty, UT, and Catherine (Steven) Dolbinski of Evergreen, CO; five grandchildren, Matthew Best, Sydney Best, John Moore, Zachary Moore and Jack Dolbinski; and three great-grandchildren, Wilder Best, Hayes Best and Kaylin Moore. The family thanks all the devoted nurses, CNAs, cooks, and other caregivers at Eastview Memory Care. We deeply appreciate your kindness.