Kathryn Robins

Robins, Kathryn
1951 - 2011 Kathryn Dawn Robins, passed away peacefully in her home in Phoenix on Friday, June 10, with her sister Janet at her side, following a two-year battle with colorectal cancer. Kathryn was actually a 50-year cancer survivor, having survived Hodgkin's Disease in 1961 at the age of ten. Kathryn (known to the family as Kathy) was born in Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada on May 13, 1951, and celebrated her 60th birthday in fine style just 28 days before her death. Predeceased by her father Donald, she is survived by her mother and best friend Edith Robins, younger brother Christopher (Ginger), sisters Janet and Cheryl (Reg Forbes), older brother Gary (Lisa Brownstone), and many nieces and nephews for whom she cared deeply. A private family memorial was held June 12 in her backyard garden, her respite and place of solace. Kathy had lived and worked in Phoenix for the past two and a half years with the YMCA as project manager for the Living Well with Disabilities program and prior to that in Yuma Arizona as executive director of Services Maximizing Independent Living and Empowerment (SMILE). She was a passionate advocate for social justice and human rights, with a long history of involvement with non-profit human services organizations. Kathy loved life and living, pursuing it with spirit and style, along with an affection for fine red wine, fast cars, dancing and funky little hole-in-the-wall cafes. She was a bit of a vagabond too, traveling extensively over the years through Canada, the United States and Latin America. Kathryn's insights on running organizations that support persons with disabilities, her quiet courage in fighting cancer for many years of her life, and her underlying decency and compassion, impressed so many of her colleagues and friends. She lived a good life, and made a difference. Donations in Kathryn's memory can be made to Community Initiatives YMCA, www.valleyymca.org/social/additional.cfm/ or the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) at www.abil.org/. Please visit www.hansenmortuary.com to send online condolences.
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