David Robinson

1935 - 2018

Robinson, David
1935 - 2018
David Franklin Robinson, age 82, of Columbus, formerly of Worthington, died Saturday, April 14, 2018 of complications from pneumonia at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri while visiting relatives. He retired in 1993 as an Associate Professor from The Ohio State University Department of Slavic Languages where he taught Russian linguistics for 27 years. He served as chair of the department for six of those years. He led several student trips to the former Soviet Union and as a Fulbright Scholar, studied in Paris, Rome, London and Sofia, Bulgaria. A graduate of Newton High School in Queens, New York, he received a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Swarthmore College and master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to graduate school, he served in the United States Army military intelligence from 1958 to 1961. A skilled musician, he was an accomplished pianist, organist and harpsichordist. He was a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Linworth where he was organist for more than 30 years. He was a keyboardist for numerous central Ohio theater groups, vocal ensembles, concerts and community events. A talented improvisational and classical musician, he especially had a passion for baroque music. For more than 20 years, he was harpsichordist for the annual presentation of Handel's "Messiah" at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. In 1995, he joined his college friend, Peter Schickele, at a circus in Indiana to play the calliope on the P.D.Q. Bach album "The Short-Tempered Clavier and Other Dysfunctional Works for Keyboard." Above all, he was a deeply loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather and cherished each moment he spent with his family. He was born July 14, 1935 in Jamaica, Queens, New York, the only child of the late Franklin and Elise Gathings Robinson. He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Anne Rogers Robinson, whom he married August 22, 1964 in Rockport, Massachusetts; his daughter, Suzanne Robinson of Columbus; his son, Drew (Joyce) Robinson of Westerville; his two granddaughters, Emma and Ava; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Jordan of St. Louis; a nephew, Scott (Marjorie) Bernoudy; a niece, Deane (Michael) Hawkins; great nieces and nephews; a Bulgarian "adopted son," Emil (Vesselina) Seculov and children, Nicko and Sophie of Worthington; and many close friends and fellow musicians. A memorial service celebrating David's life entitled "Pulling Out All the Stops" will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 2480 West Dublin-Granville Road, Columbus. The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Rev. James Childs will officiate. The family will also receive friends at a luncheon at the church following the service. In tribute to David's volunteerism in the mental health field, memorial contributions may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Franklin County) 1225 Dublin Road, Suite 110, Columbus, Ohio 43215(www.namifranklincounty.org/donate-now.html) Underwood Funeral Home in Marysville is assisting the family. Condolences may be expressed to the family atwww.underwoodfuneralhome.com.