Obituary of Robert E. Robinson

Robert E. "Bob" Robinson, 75, passed away unexpectedly on December 29, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife, Virginia, daughter Karen and husband, Bob, grandchildren Rachel and Robert Kurek, and sister, Elizabeth Klinger.

An outstanding athlete, Bob graduated from Candor Central School in 1963 lettering in all sports.

Inspired by watching Arnold Palmer as a teenager, Bob embraced the game, first playing with a handful of old clubs. Completely self-taught, he tried out for the golf team at SUNY Cortland and made it, pulling off the lowest scores he had ever shot. He graduated in 1967 and first taught Physical Education in Baldwinsville, NY. Ginny, a new Student Teacher, clearly remembers the day she brought her third graders down to Gym class and saw Bob for the first time. It truly was love at first sight and 52 years of cherished memories were made by the self-proclaimed A Team.

After several years of Teaching, Bob changed careers, first working as a Life Insurance Agent at Prudential. Always striving for personal excellence, Bob earned his Charter Life Underwriter (CLU) Designation, the oldest and most respected credentials for Insurance and Financial professionals.

Yearning to start his own agency, and forging an alliance and long friendship with Bill Bailey of the Bailey Agency, he started the Robinson-Bailey Insurance Agency from scratch in 1984. He loved owning the business, serving his clients with that extra touch that insured such strong loyalty, and enjoyed the challenges of such a competitive profession. After growing the business for 23 years, Bob retired in 2007 selling the business to close friend David Jones of the Tanner-Ibbotson Agency.

An avid golfer and loyal member of Cortland Country Club for over two decades, Bob competed in many tournaments winning Senior Club Champion six times and Super Senior Club Champion eight times. He scored two holes in one (the last one at age 73) and shot his age many times. If there was a trophy at the club for the guy who played the most rounds patiently encouraging his wife, he would win it, hands down, every time.

Bob loved the game, was a very tough competitor, and a true gentleman on the course. He made trips to Scotland with the best of golf buddies, enjoyed playing with the "Florida Group" each winter, and was always the first to put together a golf road trip with Ginny and friends. He was an accomplished watercolor artist whose beautiful paintings became gifts to family and friends. He always looked forward to hunting season each year with his lifetime buddy, Bob Shady, and sons. He loved to read and was a long time History buff, routinely finished the toughest of crossword puzzles, and was picked first for any Trivia game.

The true passion was always family. He adored his grandchildren and was the quintessential playmate no matter what the game. His creativity and ability to make the simplest things fun made everything sparkle. The family enjoyed many vacations and new adventures, and it was always a celebration just being together.

Bob possessed a spirit of quiet resilience, good humor and hopefulness. A man you could always trust, he was unwaveringly loyal and generous to those he loved, always giving his time, attention, and support. We will remember his strength in times of crisis, his tenderness with his family, and the genuine joy and laughter he shared with family and friends. The very best of him lives on in Karen, Rachel and Robert who, along with Ginny, are his truest loves and soulmates.

Private services were held at Our Lady of Hope Chapel, St. Mary's Cemetery in Dewitt, NY on January 5, 2021. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Camp Good Days & Special Times and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.