PHYLLIS ROBINSON

ROBINSON--Phyllis, C.,

age 92, died at home in New York City on Monday, March 13, 2017, after a determined and graceful battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was the wife for almost 68 years of her devoted husband and partner, Raymond K. Robinson. Phyllis Ann was the only child of Fred G. and Sophie Friedenthal Cumins. Phyllis Robinson led a full and productive life. She was a book author, an avid reader, a public school teacher, and a life- long Progressive Democrat. She was a Senior Editor at Book of the Month Club, a Yorkville neighborhood community activist, a Board member at Lenox Hill Neighborhood Association, an advocate for parks and open spaces, and served as the Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Affairs under Mayor John V. Lindsay. She was an active Vassar College alumna (Class 1945-4) who proudly made Phi Beta Kappa in her Junior Year. A graduate of and President of her Senior Class at Julia Richman High School, she aspired to be an actress, and for a brief period of time, she acted on radio. During WWII, she worked at the Office of War Information (OWI) and for Brooklyn Union Gas. She was a literary person who grew up in the Bronx and delighted in saying that she lived on Shakespeare Avenue and Featherbed Lane! She enjoyed the company of her friends and children over long lunches, and her beautiful and engaging smile lit up a room when she entered it. The Robinson beach house at Fire Island gave her much enjoyment over 55 summers. Phyllis Robinson (and here's to you....) was an exemplary citizen. She believed that the role of government was to take care of the most needy of its citizens. She gave much of her life towards the vision of a just and moral society. She cared about all people and ideas and worked towards making a better life for all New Yorkers. She has been and will be missed by friends and family. In addition to her husband, she is survived by Nancy and Lee Miringoff, Steve and Elizabeth Robinson, Tad and Amy Robinson, and four grandchildren. For the past six and a half years, she has been cared for with compassion and dignity by Lorna Cambridge, Edmund and Hadassah Mitchell, and visited regularly at her home by her childhood friend, Marilyn Lukashok. Visitors are welcome at the Robinson home in Manhattan this Thursday between 4 and 8pm. Donations in Phyllis' memory can be sent to: Greater New York Chapter, ALS, at 42 Broadway, Suite 1724, NY, NY 10004; or the Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter, 60 East 42 St., #2240, NYC, 10165; or Bideawee, 410 East 38th St., NYC, 10016.