If laughter truly is the best medicine, Richard Robinson’s friends and family will recover after his passing on September 18, 2024 in the wake of his easy laughter. He was once told that he laughed too much. Incredulously he responded, “How is that even possible?”
He described the memory of his childhood growing up in Oakland New Jersey as happy and carefree. In May of 1957 Henry and Ethel (Stapert) Robinson welcomed a baby boy into the world, who often joked that his older sister, Susan, had no idea he existed until one fateful day, years later, when he stepped on her dress as she was going out the door for a formal dance.
He enjoyed learning about Volkswagens from his father who worked as a Volkswagen mechanic. He would later own many VWs himself including a 1956 Beetle, a bright green 1959 Baja, a 1970 hippie green bus, a 1971 square-back, a 1981 Rabbit diesel pickup, a yellow 1972 Thing, an orange 1972 Super Beetle, and a 1972 Baja to name a few.
Camping was another passion enjoyed with family and friends. After spending many summers at Stony Mountain Campground, and where Richard began working at the age of 11, his parents bought some land from the campground owners and built a beautiful log cabin where he honed his woodworking skills working with his father. The cabin was finished in 1972 and they moved from New Jersey during the great flood of that year.
After working alongside his father at Harry’s Wood Shop in Tunkhannock until his high school graduation, he moved on to work for Procter and Gamble, where he stayed throughout his career until his retirement 28 years later.
In his second year of employment at Procter and Gamble, he was tasked with training a “new hire”, Lisa Lyman, and for the past 46 years, she has tried in vain to turn the tables and train HIM. It was a valiant but fruitless effort. Happily, the union produced three sons. Dakota (Vicky), Jared, and Brandon (Kate). Five grandchildren followed, Chase, Waylon, Addison, Harper, and Emma. All of whom he adored.
He was a self-proclaimed hippie, flashing a peace sign and an easy smile to everyone. He embraced that spirit of peace, love, and rock ‘n’ roll. He never took life or himself too seriously. He was never quick to judge. And was known to sport the occasional tie-dyed t-shirt.
The Philadelphia Flower Show of 2019 theme was Flower Power. Of course, we had to attend and dress the part with headbands, bell-bottom pants, with flowered and psychedelic shirts. Everywhere we went people were requesting pictures with this small band of hippies. Weren’t we something we thought? Celebrity at last! We passed a small group of teenagers who commented as we walked by, “Aren’t they cute? They must have saved their clothes!” Celebrity turned quickly into being officially old.
He loved funky socks, music, museums, art galleries, touring historic sites, fancy restaurants, checking out new brewpubs, seafood, an occasional fine cigar, travel, biking, hiking, skydiving, gliding, watching Ancient Aliens, and yelling at the tv when he watched the news.
To call him a handyman is an understatement. While it is true that he could fix nearly anything, and could often be seen rooting around his colossal hoard of accumulated oddments to find just the right thing, he had a talent much greater than that. He was always tinkering and loved creating things like whimsical little lamps out of bedsprings, nuts, bolts, or whatever struck his fancy. He renovated a century-old home and singlehandedly built a two-story addition that included a two-car garage, library, office, and family room.
For 19 years he enjoyed being a member of the small group that presented the Old Lynn Concert series and often reminisced about the wonderful musicians, patrons, and friendships he made along the way.
The last 4 years were stolen from him by the cruelest of thieves, Frontotemporal Dementia. While he slipped slowly into another realm, he still had moments of clarity and some things snapped him back to reality in an instant. If he was watching TV and he saw Trump’s face or heard his voice he would hurl an epithet at the screen. If he had a regret, it is probably that his passing will mean one less vote for Kamala Harris this November.
May we remember Richard for the good, kind man he was, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. And when our tears come, let them turn from sadness into tears of joy for having shared our path with him for this brief interlude. Keep laughing.
Peace.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:
AFTD
2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120
King of Prussia, PA 19406
