Dr. John W. Robinson Sr

DR. JOHN W. ROBINSON, SR. - 80, died peacefully on July 18, 2005 in Lebanon, New Hampshire. John was born in Rockville Center, New York, on June 15, 1925, to Margaret Baldwin Robinson and Walter E. Robinson. His father was a successful sales representative for The Industrial Press for many years. His mother was a homemaker, who focused on raising John, their only child. John had a happy childhood, attending Freeport, New York public schools, where he played flute in the school marching band. As a boy he developed a fondness for animals, and spent several summers in the late 1930's at Lake Forest Boys Camp in the Adirondacks, where he enjoyed horseback riding.

Upon graduating from high school, John - "Jack" as he was known to his friends - entered Cornell University. Eventually he was accepted as a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Jack's college education was interrupted in 1944 when he enlisted to serve in the United States Army during World War II. He served as a military policeman in the European theater, where he was wounded, for which he received the Purple Heart medal. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army in 1946, Jack returned to continue his studies at Cornell, where he received a B.S. and went on to graduate studies at Cornell Veterinary School, from which he earned his D.V.M. degree in 1951. Jack continued to serve his country in the Army Reserve, from which he was honorably discharged as a Second Lieutenant in 1956.

From veterinary school Jack settled for a short time in Harrisonburg, Virginia where he tended to the medical needs of large animals - primarily horses and cattle. Soon, Jack was presented with an opportunity to join the small animal practice of Dr. Harold Rose, who owned and operated the Blue Cross Animal Hospital on the Post Road in Greenwich, Connecticut. He moved to Greenwich in 1953 to take up the practice, from which he derived immense satisfaction for many years. When Dr. Rose retired, Jack purchased the practice and hospital, and ran it, at times in association with Drs. Gordon Johnson and Edward Fleishly, for almost 25 years. During his years of practice Jack cared for the pets of many prominent, nationally-known Greenwich residents. Jack retired from practice in 1975.

Shortly after moving to Greenwich, Jack met the former Helen Ann Batten, and in 1954, they were married in the chapel at her mother's family camp, Camp Wulamat, on Newfound Lake in Bristol, New Hampshire. Jack and Helen raised four sons over the years. Jack was active in his family's life, and particularly enjoyed outdoor family activities including swimming, skating, walking and camping. He volunteered at the Greenwich Audubon Society and was a longtime member of the American Veterinary Association. He had a talent for drawing and contributed several cartoons to local magazines over the years. The family always had animals in the house - dogs and cats, and the occasional crow, duck and rooster. For a few years Jack bred black Labrador retrievers; he donated some puppies to the Seeing Eye Foundation where they were trained and later served as guide dogs for the blind. Jack was always known for his love of automobiles, of which he had many, his most beloved being a 1937 Packard V-12 Dietrich- bodied Victoria Convertible.

When Jack retired from his veterinary practice, his sons being grown, he and Helen moved to Meredith, New Hampshire, where he resided until his death. Living in Meredith made it convenient to spend time at Camp Wulamat, where Jack helped Helen with the many and myriad tasks required to operate the business. Jack will be remembered for driving to and fro' in his tool-laden golf cart, often exchanging lively conversation with the many friendly Wulamat guests, and for his clever contributions to the annual Wulamat Art Show. Jack also kept and tended a vegetable garden at Camp.

Jack was an active member of the Meredith Rotary Club, the Meredith Conservation Commission, the Meredith Nursing Association, the First Congregational Church of Meredith. He also volunteered at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness. Jack also contributed significantly to many other worthy causes over the years.

Jack's quick wit, compassionate spirit, and generosity were his hallmarks and will be missed by the many people who knew him, but he is sure to live on in their memories. Jack is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Helen, and by sons Collin W. of Lyme, New Hampshire, John W., Jr. of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Andrew D. of Northfield, New Hampshire, and James B. of Weybridge, Vermont, and by six grandchildren - Kate, Haley, Emily, Galen, Erin, and Brianna. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack's name may be made to the First Congregational Church of Meredith, or to the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, Concord. A memorial service for Jack will be held at the First Congregational Church of Meredith on Saturday, August 27 at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend.