Obituary Page

May 19, 2010

Elliott Stirling Robinson Jr., M.D.

May 13, 2010

Elliott Stirling Robinson Jr., M.D. (also known as Zunga, Buddy, Robbie, Doc and Grandpa Doc), of Dunwoody Village, Newtown Square, Pa., died at 10:45 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2010, at the Bryn Mawr Hospital with his granddaughter, Sara Robinson, by his side. He was 85 years old and had been in failing health for several years.

He was born in Boston, Mass., on December 14, 1924, a son to Hortensia Amanda Farrall Robinson, M.D., and Elliott Stirling Andrew Robinson Sr., M.D. He was a Junior Explorer at the Boston Museum of Natural History as a teenager. A graduate of Newton High School in Newton, Mass., he was a member of the class of 1946 at Harvard College in Cambridge, Mass., and graduated from the Harvard University School of Medicine in 1947. He went on to marry Margaret Eugenia Uhl of Kingston, Pa., on July 27, 1946.

He served in the National Guard during World War II and achieved the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army, serving in Munich, Germany at the 7th Field Hospital during the occupation.

He became involved in Boy Scouting in the 1950s as a Pack Leader, and he went on to serve in numerous leadership positions in Pennsylvania and New York as well as in the Northeast Region throughout his life. He received both the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope in recognition of his many years of service to the Boy Scouts of America.

He served his internship and residency at the Providence Lying-In Hospital in Providence, R.I., before moving to Munich, Germany, to serve out his obligation to the U.S. military. Upon returning to the United States with his wife and young family, he set up private practice in obstetrics and gynecology in Lewistown, Pa. In 1958, he left private practice to join the Robert Packer Hospital at the Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, Pa., as their first specialist in obstetrics and gynecology. The department expanded and he served many years as chief. He remained there until he retired in 1986.

As a boy, Robbie often vacationed in Gilford, N.H., and spent many a summer exploring the various trails of Mount Washington. As soon as his children were old enough to make the trek, he shared his passion for hiking and exploring nature, passing along his love of all of God’s creatures, but especially of snakes. And while he was unable to hike the entire Appalachian Trial, he spent one summer pursuing that dream, extending his experiences well beyond the bounds of New Hampshire.

A 31-year resident of Waverly, N.Y., he belonged to the Grace Episcopal Church, where he was an active member and served on the Vestry. Through his service with the Boy Scouts, he became involved with and eventually became president of the Valley United Way. He was a lifelong supporter of the Boston Museum of Natural History (now the Museum of Science). When taking a break from the responsibilities of his practice, he enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, cryptograms, Scrabble, opera, photography and gardening. Puns and other wordplay brought him much delight – he wrote light-hearted poetry to accompany gifts to those he loved; he was a connoisseur of limericks.

Robbie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 39 years, Margaret Uhl Robinson; his wife of 14 years, Marian M. U. Robinson; and his younger sister, Anne R. Knowles.

He is survived by his twin sister, H. Allyn Smith, of Laconia, N.H.; his sister-in-law and companion, Eleanor J. Uhl, of Newtown Square, Pa.; his four children, Elliott S. Robinson III (Linda Brettholz), of Rossville, Md., Eugenia R. Mathes (George), of Holley, N.Y., Rebecca R. Abele, of Zanesville, Ohio, and Deborah M. Robinson, of Niamey, Niger, West Africa; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Special calling hours and memorial services will be arranged in Newtown Square, Pa., Waverly, N.Y., and Kingston to allow his many friends and relatives to share in celebrating his life. Robbie will be cremated and later interred on a date to be determined at the Oaklawn Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre. For those wishing more information, please contact Donohue Funeral Homes Inc. at 610-353-6300.

In honor of the many people and organizations who espouse the same focus Robbie had for God, country and community, we ask that you take a moment to consider a donation in his memory to one or more of his favorite charities, including Boy Scouts of America, NEPA Council, 1 Bob Mellow Drive, Moosic, PA 18507, 570-207-1227, or the Museum of Science, Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, 617-589-0100.

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