Jack Richard Robinson

Jack Richard Robinson, 81, of Piqua, Ohio, and Sarasota, Fl, died on January 25 after suffering a devastating stroke on January 24. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Diane Robinson; his son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Linda Robinson; his daughter and son-in-law, Jackie and Gary Davis; five grandchildren, Trey Robinson, Stephen Davis, Joel Robinson, Kaira Robinson, and Jack Davis; his brother and sister-in-law, Don and Jennie Robinson; his former wife, Sandi Robinson; his sister-in-law and her husband, Shirley and Maurie Duncan; and his niece and her husband, Jenny and Kyle Kozeny, and their children, McKenna, Brayden and Kelton Kozeny. Jack was born in Barberton, OH, and worked most of his life as a materials manager. He served as a paratrooper in Germany with the 81st Airborne before becoming a tire builder with General Tire in Akron, OH, and was proud of having worked on an assembly line. While working in the union, he attended the University of Akron and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing. He was promoted to materials manager at General Tire where he loved to implement and improve systems. He truly valued the dignity of ...[more]

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or and admired the men and women who worked hard and well, often with little pay. The tire builder was also a poet. He wrote loving poetry to his wife, read poetry endlessly, and often bored his grandchildren by reading poetry to them before they went to bed. He was a staunch Democrat and a dedicated liberal who loved and adored the Tea Party members of his family. He was a member of the Humanist Society of Sarasota, on the executive committee of the Democratic party in Miami County Ohio, and an enthusiastic player in the Ashton Lakes euchre club in Sarasota. His favorite vacation spot was Yachats, OR, where he hung out at the Green Salmon café to drink hot chocolate and listen to interesting conversations around him. But most of all Jack was fun. He charmed people from toddlers to the elderly. Children ran to play with him, babies fell asleep on his chest, and everyone enjoyed his sly and self-deprecating humor. For years he laughed over a nephew's remark: "Jack, you're weird." He loved his house on Decker Lake in Piqua where he planted hundreds of trees and endlessly battled weeds in his huge lawn. Groundhogs were his mortal enemy. Most of all he loved his family. He was never happier than when everyone gathered around. His home in Piqua was built to lure grandchildren and all five often came together, gathering around the fire pit outside or sitting at the bottom of the stairs listening to his stories and poems. He was a master at playing monster with the young grandchildren and even made monster costumes and masks. As one grandson lovingly said, " I hope that one day I'll be as amazing a grandfather." He considered his sister-in-law, Shirley, a real sister and frequently traveled with her and Sharon. But his soulmate was Sharon. People often commented on how loving and joyful their marriage was. When she was seriously ill in 1999, he sat by her hospital bed all night long for four weeks. He was dedicated to her, making her tea in the morning and rubbing her back every night. He made her laugh every single day. A celebration of life will be held for family and close friends from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at Thano's Family Restaurant, 71 Fifth St. SE, Barberton, OH 44230. Contributions may be made to Season of Sharing of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota FL 34237.