Charles Robinson

Charles Robinson

AGE: 82 • Mendham

Charles Robinson, 82, of Mendham, a well known artist and book illustrator, died on June 15 in Morristown after a long illness, 10 days before his 83rd birthday.

A resident of Mendham Twp. for 28 years, he had previously lived in Morristown and New Vernon. He died in the same hospital in which he was born on June 25, 1931, Morristown Medical Center. He was a son of longtime Morristown residents Ruth and Powell Robinson, who had moved from New England in the 1920's.

Mr. Robinson was interested in art from an early age and drew and sketched throughout his school years. He graduated from the Peck School, Morristown, Milton Academy, Milton, MA., and Harvard University, Class of 1953, where he was a member of the Hasty Pudding Club and drew cartoons for the Harvard Lampoon. Following graduation he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1958 he received a law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and practiced law for 10 years before changing careers to concentrate on art full time, focusing on book illustration.

Over 30 years he illustrated about 150 children's books, as well as his own book,"Yuri and the Mooneygoats," an updated folk tale. In 1971 he received the gold medal from the Society of Children's Book Illustrators for his work on "Audubon: The Man Who Painted Birds," by Norah Smaridge.

Mr. Robinson was also known for his oil paintings, mainly atmospheric landscapes of rural New Jersey, the family's farm in Pennsylvania, the Georgia seaside and the coast of Great Britain. His works hang in private collections as well as in the Zimmerli Museum of Art, Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He was a participating artist at Gallery Seven, Bernardsville.

He was a longstanding member of the Morristown Shakespeare Club and the Morristown Field Club, as well as a member and board president of the Salvation Army, Morristown. He also served on the board of Morristowns's Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, where he painted background murals for exhibits, illustrated brochures and contributed works to their collection.

Surviving are his wife of 57 years, the former Cynthia McLean Margetts; a brother, Powell Robinson Jr., of Marshfield, MA; three children, Meredith (Mimi) Robinson of Petaluma, CA; Charles Powell (C.P.) Robinson and his wife Louise of Basking Ridge; Edward W.T. Robinson and his wife Carla of Philadelphia, PA. and four grandchildren, George, Katherine, Ruth and Isabel Robinson.

A memorial service will be held Sept. 19 at 2 pm at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Morristown. Contributions may be made to The Perry County Council of the Arts, 1 South Second St. Newport, PA 17074 or to the Mendham Twp. Library, Brookside NJ 07926.