Dorothy Spencer "Dotty" Robinson

1930 - 2014

Dorothy Spencer Robinson, 83, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in Schuylerville, N.Y.
She was born Nov. 15, 1930, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Ruth and Asa Spencer.
Dotty graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Northampton, Mass. In her 40s, she returned to graduate school and received her Masters Degree in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts in 1975. She served as Smith College's admission-alumnae coordinator during the early 1980s.
As a young mother, Dotty was elected to the Springfield, Mass., school committee; then was appointed to the Massachusetts State Board of Education. Following a five-year term, she was appointed to the President's National Advisory Council on Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which oversaw innovative programs throughout the country.
After moving to Amherst, Mass., Dotty served on the Planning Board and chaired the Board of Assessors through three town-wide revaluations. She also led the Tally-Ho 4-H Club and co-founded Pegasus Pony Club, a division of the United States Pony Clubs. She was most proud of her leadership of the Amherst A Better Chance program, which brings boys from beleaguered urban schools to school in Amherst. As president of ABC, Dotty convinced Amherst College officials to donate a house to the ABC program so that they would have a residence of their own.
As a retirement project, Dotty and Adair Robinson established Flyway Farm in Schuylerville to raise and race Standardbred harness horses. Recognizing a need to help horses as they retired from racing, Dotty co-founded Homes for Harness horses. She also worked as a docent at the National Museum of Racing, leading groups through the museum and the Oklahoma Track for more than 20 years. And every Monday morning for all those years, the Robinsons could be seen at local markets collecting food for the EOC soup kitchen.
Dotty is survived by her wonderful family: art teacher, Carol Kaplan and her husband, Steve, of Farmington, Conn.; horticulturist Sally Nizolek and her husband, David, of Saratoga; professor Diane Sabato and her husband, Bob, of Springfield, Mass.; IT manager John Jr. and his fiancée, Ellen Humphreys, of East Longmeadow, Mass.; social studies teacher Julie Spencer-Robinson and her husband, Richard Dubuc, of Northampton, Mass.; and special education teacher Linda Cook and her husband, Jeff, of Schuylerville; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dotty was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years, John Adair Robinson, in June 2013.
Honoring Dotty's wishes, the funeral services will be private at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to the New York State Humane Association, P.O. Box 3068, Kingston, NY 12402, or Saratoga Clay Arts Center, 167 Hayes Rd., Schuylerville, NY 12871.