In Memory

Gordon Robinson

Gordon Robinson

Gordon Robinson passed away on January 30, 2019 in hospice care at All American Assisted Living in Hanson, Massachusetts. He was laid to rest February 7, 2019 in the Mountain View Cemetery in Bloomfield, Connecticut near where he and his wife Ginny made their home for many years.

Born November 14, 1942 in Grand Forks, North Dakota to Professor Elwyn B. and Eva Foster Robinson, he attended Grand Forks public schools graduating in 1960. He was an accomplished student, ranking 9th of 265 in his graduating class at Central High School. He played football with great passion and enthusiasm earning recognition as a Tackle on the 1959 North Dakota All-East team.

Gordon attended the University of North Dakota and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering 2nd of 90 engineering graduates earning a fellowship at the University of Michigan where he received a Masters degree in 1965. He then accepted a position at Combustion Engineering, now ABB, in Hartford, CT.

He returned to school at Northwestern University where he met Ginny Hussey. They were married June 24, 1973 in Williamstown, MA. They lived near Cleveland, OH while Gordon completed work on his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1974.

After graduation Gordon accepted a position at Clemson University as a professor in the Engineering Department, while Ginny worked as a choir director at Liberty High School. After 3 years Gordon returned to private industry and worked for Combustion Engineering in Hartford, CT. He was a leading engineer at the company for over 25 years. Ginny was a choir director at Northwest Catholic High School.

After retiring from Combustion Engineering Gordon started a tutoring service for the students at the University of Hartford who needed help understanding higher levels of math and science. This endeavor was provided to the students at no cost as an expression of his love for the Lord. He conducted this ministry for many years. Ginny and Gordon spent many summers in Kennebunkport, ME relaxing at a resort overlooking the ocean.

Gordon's life was one of passion for matters about which he cared, his wife, his Faith, his work as well as less fundamental things such as motorcycles, Grand Prix Auto racing, trains, railroads and the Chicago Bears.

Gordon's brother Stephen has many fond memories of their visits over the years. In high school, Gordon was an avid Chicago Bears fan. Gordon rigged a radio antenna in his back yard so he could listen to the Chicago Bear games on Sunday. From 1966 to 1989, Stephen had the opportunity to get together with Gordon. He spent a "football" weekend with Gordon in Indiana, a memorable dinner with Gordon and friend Larry Hanson near San Francisco, a reunion party in Grand Forks with old high school friends and some final trips to Grand Forks when their parents were nearing the end of their lives and to honor their father after he passed away. Stephen's final visit was in 1989, when he met Gordon in Bloomfield. They spent 2-3 days together touring Gordon's office, where he kept a pair of bedroom slippers to wear while he worked. He also visited with Gordon's friends and took a ride up to Mountain View Cemetery overlooking the Hartford area where Gordon now rests.

Throughout his life, Gordon was involved in a number of Christian churches and organizations. In Philippians 1:21, the apostle Paul writes, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." This passage from the Bible describes Gordon's life most accurately. Ever since Gordon accepted Jesus as his Savior as a young boy, he did everything he could to show forth Christ's love through his actions. He was a faithful husband for over 45 years, he was honest and accurate in all of his business dealings and he donated his time and resources to Christian causes. Now that he is dead, he has gained his reward and rests in the arms of Jesus his Savior and Lord.

Gordon is survived by his wife Ginny now residing at All American Assisted Living in Hanson, MA, his brother and friend Dr. Stephen W. Robinson of Maui, HI, his cousin Ellen Robinson Chack of Mifflingtown, PA, his brother-in-law David Hussey and wife Sarah of Weymouth, MA and two nephews, Paul Hussey and family of Glenville, NY and John Hussey and family of Colorado Springs, CO. He is also survived by a group of life-long friends, Lawrence Hanson, Larry Heggar, Pete Rice, Ron Paulson and other graduates of Central HS. He is also survived by two close friends, John Cogoli and Dan Remigino, business associates from the Hartford area. Although Ginny and Gordon had no children, they were loved and appreciated by their two nephews with whom they had a close relationship resulting from yearly visits to Boston to celebrate Thanksgiving. Gordon will be missed by all of his relatives and close friends, but also by all of the people he came into contact with over his lifetime. He lived his life as a true Christian who loved and served the Lord with great humility.



 
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02/01/19 04:18 PM #1    

Lewis Liszt

Gordo was a dear friend in high school. He was kind, gentle, intelligent and reliable. I am sure his passing will be a sad event for those who knew him well.


02/02/19 03:50 AM #2    

Jerry Jonnson

Rest in peace my friend...I always remember your kind and gentle demeanor.  Heaven will be a better place with you in it.  

 


02/02/19 11:19 AM #3    

Gay Dybwad

Good bye, Gordy. I always appreciated your ready smile that always brightened the halls of Central. A fond memory. I never took your dad's history course, but I still have a copy of his famous ND history. Gay Dybwad, Gold Canyon, AZ

02/02/19 09:05 PM #4    

Harriet Wilkins (Eslinger)

 My father taught history with Gordon’s father at UND and they were dear friends. When we arrived in Grand Forks in 1945, Elwyn met the train. His parents were my Godparents and we shared many a holiday meal together. I knew that Gordon’s wife Ginny had not been well and he was looking after her. Funnily enough, Iwas just thinking the other day that we had not received a Christmas letter from him. 

Although he was an engineer, he took his religion very seriously and I know he is in a better place. RIP. Gordon.

Harriet Wilkins Eslinger


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