John Munro Robinson July 8, 1917 - February 18, 2017 La Jolla La Jolla resident, Navy officer, attorney, baseball coach, father, and friend, John Munro Robinson, 99, passed away peacefully on February 18th.John was born and raised in Minneapolis, played baseball, delivered newspapers and worked for two years following his graduation, saving money to enroll at the University of Minnesota. With the onset of World War II, John was commissioned into the Navy and assigned to Washington, D.C. where he met Kathleen Estelle Tanner. They married on February 6, 1943 in Arlington, VA. Two sons followed, John Jr. (Skip) in 1944, and David in 1946. During WW II, Lieutenant Robinson served as a communications officer in the Pacific and in Pleasanton, CA, until leaving the Navy to complete law school. John began his career in banking, but was interrupted by the Korean War. The Navy recalled and promoted him to Lieutenant Commander, relocating the Robinsons to San Diego.John and Kathy discovered La Jolla, renting three homes before purchasing, in 1952, the house that became home for 65 years. Third son, Bruce, was born in 1954.Although an attorney and admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, John's career was in estate planning until retirement in 1982. John and Kathy traveled extensively, enjoying over 50 countries and 50 states. John coached La Jolla Youth Baseball from 1953-1968. In 65 years of La Jolla Youth Baseball, only John's sons, Dave and Bruce, have played in the Major Leagues.A member of La Jolla Presbyterian Church since 1954, John served as elder, deacon and on the board of trustees. John was a member of the San Diego Highway Development Association, serving as President in 1964. John was predeceased by wife Kathy (2002) and is survived by sons, John Jr. (Carol) of Sonoma, Dave (Connie) of San Diego, Bruce (Pam) of San Diego and Idaho, 7 grandchildren, Kelly Ridley, Scott Robinson, Tommy Robinson, John Robinson III, Eric Robinson, Patty Doumeng, David Robinson Jr., and 14 great-grandchildren. John will be fondly remembered for his stories, sense of humor, coaching, love of travel, amazing memory, military service and appreciation of life. Services will be held on Friday, March 3rd, 10am at La Jolla Presbyterian Church, 7715 Draper Avenue, La Jolla, CA. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego, CA 92121. A celebration of life will follow. Family and friends are welcome to attend all events. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

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Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Feb. 26, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for John Robinson

Sponsored by El Camino Memorial – Sorrento Valley and El Camino Memorial Park and Mortuaries (Sorrento Valley).

4 Entries

February 21, 2018

I am very sorry for your loss.

Tom Warner

February 27, 2017

It was a wonderful pleasure to have known John. Our friendship began in the "Warner house" prior to WWII as I was the youngest of the family of Petty, David, Barney and Frank where John spent much time! We've aged together and become closer each year through many phone calls. Both of us were looking forward to July 8th when his "BIG" birthday was coming up. My kindest wishes to all of his family whom I've never met but know many of from John and my numerous phone "chats". Tom Warner

John with Julie, 2009

Julie (Warner) Walker

February 27, 2017

John and my Dad's family go waaaaaay back. John was almost a member of the Harold Warner family in Minneapolis when he was a youth, with David Warner as one of his best buds, and he got to know David's sister Petty and brothers, Barney, Frank and Tom. He spent a lot of time at the Warner house.

My Dad was Barney, and he and John not only were youths together, they crossed paths while in the Navy in WWII and again, when John and his family moved to La Jolla, CA, where my Dad and Mom (Barney and Judy) and four daughters also lived, my folks until the mid-90s.

However, my Dad and John stayed close via phone, even tho my folks ended up in Colo in their later years--until my Dad died in 2009. John called Dad almost weekly in my those later years and was a long-distance shoulder and support for him when my Mom died in 2007.

I was able to keep John updated about my Dad's failing health and memory issues in the last years of Dad's life. I developed a wonderful friendship with John as a result, and I got the pleasure of spending time with John many times after my Dad's death since I still live in San Diego. He was such a wonderful link to my Dad with his many great stories of their youth. My husband Jeff and I will miss going to lunch with him, in La Jolla, some 4-5 times a year since 2009, and John always saying, "No, it's my turn to pay"! But Jeff usually won.

I was especially fortunate to have been able to help him get his memoirs on paper (along with Heidi Johnson) and formatted for his family. I learned so much more about this special man and his family. But I'll always remember what a wonderfully happy, upbeat and strong man he was, no matter the obstacles he had to deal withand what a memory!!

Julie (Warner) Walker
San Diego, CA

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