Jonathan Dorr Robinson

Jonathan Dorr Robinson, 71 of Salem, Connecticut passed peacefully at home on January 2nd 2026 after a long struggle with throat cancer.

A loving, quietly funny man, Jon was someone who was able to build almost anything. With an artistic eye and an inquisitive nature, he was always ready to create what was needed while getting the whole family involved. He was a partner and the master fixer of the cabins at our family camp, Timberledge. He loved spending time on Keyes Pond in the Blue Jay and the Sunfish. When Jon finally managed to swamp the Jay, a family flotilla of canoes and kayaks was dispatched to tow him to shore. In later years as he showed true skill as he somehow reclined and maneuvered the Sunfish around on a glassy lake he would always say "anyone can sail when there's wind".

Jon was born in 1955 to Francis Dorr Robinson and Joan Rice Robinson in Salem Connecticut. On Great Oaks Farm he cut a lot of hay and wood and tried to ride recalcitrant ponies. Later he would purchase the Hollister homestead on Hagen Road (the source of may of those ponies). He enjoyed life with many friends, especially camping out in the woods around the farm. This time in the woods came with consequences as Jon was one of the first cases of Lyme disease documented in 1977.

Jon attended Salem Elementary School and graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1973. He was a valued employee as a fabricator and installer at Burke Enterprises and ArtFX sign companies. He had been employed for many years by Phillips Construction as a foreman and engineer. As a large equipment operator his words of wisdom: "It's better to learn on someone else's equipment!" Since it's opening in 2000, Jon was an engineer at Nature's Art/ The Dinosaur Place in Montville. He travelled to Arizona to bring back fabricated dinosaurs, made the volcano and kept it working. He made sure Monty, the giant roadside T-Rex, was attired in all the latest costumes of the season.

Jon married Jeanne Lazar in 1995 and became a proud father to Charlie Jonathan Robinson who, sadly, predeceased him in 2024 .Jon was also preceded in death by his father, Francis Dorr Robinson 1929- 2024, and one of his 4 sisters, Jane Rice Robinson 1960- 1978. He is survived by 3 sisters: Susan Robinson (Hartford CT), Elizabeth Robinson Weintraub (Paul Weintraub) (Tucson AZ), Amy Robinson (Chuck Rudinsky) (Gilford NH), his mother Joan Rice Robinson (Tucson AZ), his former wife Jeanne Lazar (CT), his step mother Dorothy Bowering Robinson (Cape Cod), step brother Jeffrey Dugas, step sisters Lynda Dugas Kauth, Pamela Dugas Vars, as well as many nieces and nephews, many of whom helped to raise a flagpole or two at Timberledge.

Jon had an exceptional bond with the many feral kitties that showed up at his place. Gizmo, Cosmo, and Maddie are his beloved orange buddies left behind after his passing. Homes are being arranged for them. Donations in Jon's memory may be made to the animal care charity of your choice.

An internment is planned for this summer at the family plot in the Wesley Brown Cemetery (old Salem Cemetery) on Witch Meadow Road in Salem Connecticut, Thursday June 25th. Service and interment times TBD. Memorial gathering to follow at Fox Farm.