Learning to say "was" about our father has been one of the hardest things we've had to do. John Robinson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and dear friend and neighbor, passed away surrounded by his loved ones November 29, 2021 from complications of a heart attack at the age of 79.

He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and came into this world surrounded by family. With his mother's Aunt Ruby as midwife, he was born to Alveta Phillips nee Dabney at a time when white people would not allow black people access to hospitals. For a time, John was raised by his grandmother, Ettie Bell Dabney nee Jeter, while his mother, Alveta, and her sister, Margaret, headed North to Detroit to lead the family's resettlement in Detroit as part of the Great Migration. Alveta married her schoolmate James Samuel Phillips, and they raised John with his three brothers, James, Theodore, and Ronald Phillips.

His father, Burnest C. Robinson would remain in the south in Montgomery with his six other children. John would visit his family in Montgomery, driven down at night by relatives to avoid some of the harassment black people endured. He also traveled by train alone as young as nine years old, and no matter how carefully his mother reminded him he would often lose his train ticket. Crossing the Mason Dixon line into the South meant that white people forced black people to move to the back of the train. He remembered visits with his father and siblings, Delores, Ernest, Burnest, Marion, Theodore, and Gloria. Christmas time visits had no snow, and John thus realized his deep fondness for white Christmases.

John graduated from Cass Technical High School, where he aspired to be a chemist but was foiled by the math. His mother had wanted him to be a math teacher, but he found a life of service as a social worker. It was in this field that he made several dear lifelong friends and met the love of his life when their friends set them up on a blind date. After a whirlwind romance, John married Patricia Brooks on his lunch break and always thought his boss was so kind to let him combine his breaks and his lunch so that he could have an hour. Two weeks later, the newlyweds endured the Detroit Rebellion of 1967.

After three years they started their family. Four children later, John's job with the State of Michigan was transferred to Lansing and the Robinson family found a new home. John spent 35 years working in the field of social work in substance abuse treatment program development. He also attained a Bachelors in Sociology and Masters of Social Work at Wayne State University. His dear friend from grad school, Loren Hoffman, recommended John to Wayne State University, where he began his retirement job instructing the next generation of social workers.

John was a doting grandfather, known to hand out chocolate bars and dollar bills to grandchildren and their friends. He attended many of their music and sporting events. He loved Motown, the Beatles, the Jackson Five, the Thriller Album, Abba and Adele. He loved watching college and professional sports, and was a long time fan of U of M football. He was a student of history, particularly World War II. He also spent time as a coach and referee of his children's sports, doing acts of service and donating to charity, and enjoying his family, neighbors and friends.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Burnest C. Robinson and Alveta and James S. Phillips; and siblings, Delores Tinner, Ernest Robinson, Marion Robinson, Burnest C. Robinson, and Theodore Robinson.

He leaves to treasure his memory: his wife, Pat Robinson; children, John (Sherri) Robinson, Beth (Ryan) Marin, Christa Robinson and James (Akila) Robinson; siblings, James Phillips, Theodore (Christine) Phillips, Ronald (Renee) Phillips; a host of cousins; nieces and nephews; dear friends and loved ones; as well as five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Arrangements for Mr. Robinson are as follows: