Harold J. Robinson

Harold Robinson Obituary

Harold J. Robinson of Littleton, decorated Army vet, WWII; 85 LITTLETON Harold J. Robinson, 85, of Littleton, died at Walden Rehabilitation and Nursing Ceneter in Concord, on September 1. He was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia on June 5, 1923, son of the late Thomas and Mary (Pendergast) Belliveau, and was the husband of the late Margaret (Johnson) Robinson who died in 2000. He grew up in Lexington between two golf courses where he caddied as a young man and became a great golfer. Harold moved to Littleton in the 1940's. and served in the U.S. Army where he received a Purple Heart for his service in Normandy. After the War, Harold he worked as a carpenter for most of his life. He later became an inspector for General Service Administration where he inspected HUD housing projects. He was a Life Member of Littleton VFW, Littleton-Westford Elks, and The Grange. Harold has also served as Grand Marshall of a Memorial Day Parade in Littleton. His survivors include his daughter, Diane and her husband, Stephen Belliveau of Bolton; and 2 Grandchildren Andrine and Brad Belliveau, both of Bolton. He was also the brother of the late George Robinson, May Sullivan, and Katherine McCormack. ROBINSON Private Family Services will be held at St. Anne's Church, Littleton. Burial at Westlawn Cemetery, Littleton. His family requests that contributions be made in his memory to Alzheimers Assn., 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Badger Funeral Home, Littleton is in charge of arrangements. www.badgerfuneral.com

Published by Lowell Sun on Sep. 4, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Harold Robinson

2 Entries

Eileen Sawin

September 6, 2008

To my brothers and sisters and Diane and family: Uncle Harold was in a nursing home in Concord, MA for the past 6 years. I visited him several times. The only visit that I
enjoyed was the last one several months ago. He saw me coming in and looked very excited and happy and stuck his hand up high with a big wave, grinned from ear to ear and shouted, "HI!" Sometimes I think he thought I was Mom. In the early days, he would ask me about Aunt Katherine and Mom.

Uncle Harold was single well into his forties. Then he met Margaret, and true happiness. They had one daughter, our cousin Diane. He was very proud of Andreen and Brad, his grandchildren. When I worked at Valley Design, I was able to visit him and Aunt Margaret fairly regularly. They always showed me things that the grandchildren had drawn or written. (Did you know that Andreen graduated from Cornell and is at Medical School at Tufts? Brad attends Bridgewater State College. I think he might be in his junior year. )

Uncle Harold was a very sweet man. Most times he would bring
out his purple heart to show me. One of his favorite tales was about
the time he and his fellow soldiers were ordered to go up a hill. He
said that he heard a voice in his head telling him, "Don't go up that
hill!" He started up anyway, ignoring the voice. But it continued and
so he dropped back. He believed that it was God warning him since most everyone who went up was killed. Another favorite story he loved to tell was a joke about a guy who was drowning. He called out to God to help him. Soon a boat came by and wanted to throw him a lifesaver. He refused, saying that God would help him. Another boat came by and a guy jumped in to haul him back to the boat. I think there was another attempt by a helicopter rescue team. Again, he refused help saying," I am waiting for God to help me." Finally, he couldn't tread water any more, and he drowned. He asked God why he hadn't saved him. I guess you all know the answer! He would really laugh at that one!

Some things you might not know about Uncle Harold: I remember the day he came home from the war. He appeared in the doorway of our kitchen. I can still see him in my mind dressed in his uniform. I remember that Mom was very excited and happy to see him. Uncle Harold worked with Grampa for many years doing carpentry. He and Grampa moved the stairs at our Willowdale Street house from the living room (they faced the front door) to the kitchen. They also put in the hardwood floor in the living room. Mom sure loved that floor!
At some point he bought a house in Littleton for himself and Gramma and Grampa. It was situated approximately where Concord Co-op Bank is now located. I am not sure why, but soon, Aunt Katherine, Uncle Paul and Mary and John were there living with them, too.

He also worked in maintenance at a plant in Littleton. Grampa's second wife, Lena, passed away, and in time, Grampa was unable to live alone, so he went to live with Harold and Margaret until he went into the nursing home. Harold took the responsibility of checking on Grampa when he lived alone, and then taking him into his home twice.

Uncle Harold used to play the Hawaiian guitar. I loved it when he would bring it out on the porch at his house and play for me. That porch also was home to Aunt Katherine's "mangler." This was her
pride and joy. How she loved to iron with it! Aunt Katherine ironed
EVERYTHING: socks, under shorts, you-name-it! She would let me iron things when I went down for week long visits with cousin Mary. I think I mostly ironed socks! Mary spent her childhood recovering from polio. I used to do all her exercises with her.

Another thing Uncle Harold loved was playing golf. It suited him. He
was very laid-back and easy going. Golf was the perfect game for him.
I often thought that he and Mom were both gifted with that same
easy-going, unhurried personality, loving to laugh and enjoy whatever
came their way. Though both Mom and Uncle Harold were diligent, they rarely rushed, nor were they tempted to crowd their schedules!

Aunt Margaret was his beloved companion. They had a
very rich and lasting love affair with each other. When Aunt Margaret
died, Uncle Harold's loss was quite overwhelming. He didn't cook much after that, buying prepared entrees at Donelon's, or boiling up a hot dog or two. He looked forward to dreaming about her so much, that the dreams became his reality in time. It was sad, but at the same time, I could tell that the dreams and daydreams comforted him.

Uncle Harold was a warm and welcoming person. No one ever would feel uncomfortable or challenged in his presence. If any of us are kind, forgiving or loving, perhaps we were blessed with some of the same genes as Uncle Harold.

Nancy "Nan" Abbott-Kiely

September 5, 2008

May you rest in peace and be free from all sufferings. You must be with your dearest Margaret whom you had missed and your brother and sisters. We will always keep our fondest memories of you and Margaret. You were the greatest neighbors on Goldsmith St. of Littleton. We will always have a special place in our hearts of you and Margaret. With our love, Nan, Geno & Jen Abbott, Laura & Carolyn Abbott

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results