Robin Biddison Dodd

Robin Biddison Dodd passed away unexpectedly after a fall on Christmas Eve. The Towson resident was 87.

Robin was a native Baltimorean growing up on Kipling Court in Govans. She was the oldest sister to brothers Tom and Alan, born to Thomas Nichols Biddison, Sr. and Robin Smith Biddison. She graduated from Friends School of Baltimore and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware. Robin obtained her master's degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Robin's first professional job was as a home economics teacher in Baltimore City at Roland Park Junior High, a school she had attended. After two years she moved to Hawaii to attend the East-West Institute at the University of Hawaii. She worked for the University as a 4-H Extension Agent and enjoyed surfing in her free time. Robin met her first husband, Ron Brosnahan, while in Hawaii and they moved to Kalama, Washington when he completed his service in the Marine Corps.

After welcoming their daughter, also named Robin, the couple moved to Baltimore where she resumed her career with the school system. After fifteen years the couple divorced and Robin reconnected with old friend Paul Dodd who used to visit her neighbor in Govans as a teenager. Paul and Robin married three years later and spent the next forty-five years together. Robin taught Paul how to ski and shared with him her love of travel. They were fortunate to ski all over the world and travel to every continent except Antarctica.

Robin continued her career in education for the next thirty-seven years, working in thirteen different schools. She embraced her roles in some of the toughest schools in Baltimore as a teacher, guidance counselor and assistant principal. She was thrilled when she was chosen to be one of two teachers sent to Kawasaki, Japan as part of the Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City exchange program. She spent a year in Japan teaching conversational English in two junior high schools and used her time off to go skiing and sightseeing.

In retirement Robin stayed busy volunteering in various roles in the Baltimore Ski Club and as a member and past chair of the Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee. She was selected by the mayor to return twice to Japan as an ambassador for Baltimore City. An avid crafter, Robin belonged to various knitting and quilting groups and she carried a bag full of knitting, crocheting or sewing wherever she went. She loved to make quilts for Project Linus and made sure that all the neighborhood children had quilts, car seat blankets, hats or gloves that she made by hand.

Robin enjoyed sports and often attended games at Loyola, Hopkins, Camden Yards and school sporting events for family and friends. She was an avid golfer, tennis player and aerobic dancer. A devout Episcopalian, Robin regularly attended the Church of the Redeemer where she enjoyed ushering and bible study.

Most importantly, Robin loved her family, friends and neighbors. She is survived by her loving husband Paul H. Dodd, brother Alan Biddison, daughter Robin Bailey, stepson Chris Dodd, grandchildren Sara and Frank Bailley, great-granddaughter Baileigh Anne and countless nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors and their children she lovingly called her bus stop buddies. She was predeceased by her loving brother Tom and stepchildren Susan and Jeff. Daughter Robin reflected, "My mom never met a stranger who didn't end up a friend. There was always a seat at our table or an extra room for someone who needed it. She was amazingly talented, generous and my very best friend. She instilled in me the desire to help others and give back whenever possible. She will be sorely missed."

A celebration of a life well lived will be held on Saturday, March 15th at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at the Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles Street in Baltimore. All are welcome. Please wear purple (if possible) in Robin's honor. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Church of the Redeemer for the BOOTS program that purchases new boots for the homeless in Baltimore during the Christmas holidays.