Don W. Robinson

DON W. ROBINSON Don W. Robinson, 86, of Vero Beach, Florida, died Saturday, January 24, 2009 at VNA Hospice House. He was born March 1, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan and had been a winter resident of Vero Beach for 25 years and a full time resident since 2006, coming from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Don served as a B-24 bomber pilot during W.W. II and received two Distinguished Flying Crosses. Don is a 1947 graduate of the University of Michigan where he lettered on a great football team and captained the baseball team. He served as backfield coach for the U of M football team from 1948 to 1956. He had served as past-president of the U of M Alumni Clubs of Ann Arbor and Detroit and was a critical force in raising $12 million for Schembeckler Hall and $3 million for the U of M Golf Course. He was a member of the Victors and Presidents Clubs. Don had served as campaign chair for Washtenaw United Way, as president of the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, as president of Barton Hills Country Club, as chair of the Washtenaw United Way Leadership Giving Association and as finance chair of the Washtenaw County Republican Committee. Don had led numerous capitol campaigns, including campaigns for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, the Ann Arbor Community Center and Dawn Farm. In addition to boards that he chaired, Don had been a board member of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, National Bank and Trust Company, the Ann Arbor Community Center, the Golf Association of Michigan and Western Golf Association. Professionally, Don was past- president of numerous organizations, including the Mutual Benefit Agents Association, the National Association of Mutual Benefit, the Washtenaw County Life Underwriters Association, the Michigan State Association of Life Underwriters and the Ann Arbor Charter Life Underwriters. He was a life qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Don was an active member of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor Michigan since 1971 and received the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor Distinguished Service Award in 1998. Don was a member of the Bent Pine Golf Club, Vero Beach for over 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marjorie Sadler Robinson of Vero Beach; son, Douglas Robinson (Linda) of Vero Beach; daughter, Linda Himpelmann( Fred) of Pfaffenhoffen, Germany; 5 grand children, Don William Robinson II, Laurel Sadler Robinson, Elissa Spangler, Christopher Himpelmann and Heidi Himpelmann; 3 great-grandchildren. A service will be held 1 PM, on Tuesday, February 3rd in the Chapel at Trinity Episcopal Church, Vero Beach, with the Very Rev. G. Richard Lobs III officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of one's choice in memory of Mr. Robinson. Arrangements are under the direction of the Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book may be signed online at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.