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From:
Tony Chahine
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Sunday, July 24, 2016
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A memory? As in singular, not plural? What a nice guy...
Dr. Paul Robinson was a kind man with a huge, passionate, giving heart. I first knew him as Mary's dad. He then became my high school physics teacher; teaching for free an hour before the bell officially rang - just because the school did not have a physics teacher for his daughters. In hindsight, it was a blessing that the high school did not have a physics teacher because we got Dr. Paul instead! Dr. Paul, as he wished to be called, was a PhD rocket scientist so if any student was willing to wake up an hour early, then they were in for a treat. And that treat paid off with dividends.
Dr. Paul had a passion for teaching. He left JPL to teach at Principia, and in retirement taught at Juvenile Hall. That, in itself, speaks volumes to the kindness, patience and generosity in his heart. When I asked him about the difference between the students at both ends of the academic spectrum, you could tell the teacher in him cherished that universal 'sparkle' any student has when they finally understand a concept...wherever it may lie.
In my heart, I will ultimately remember Dr. Paul as loyal. Fast forward a decade from that early morning high school physics class, and Dr. Paul was getting his eyes examined (by me). His presence was an honor. I commented that I was flattered by the inconvenient distance he traveled to see me, and he turned the role reversal (of sorts) into a complement. You could never out-do his genuine kindness no matter how hard you tried.
When I heard the news of his passing, I paused and then let out a long sigh. Just in knowing him, the world became a better place. His optimism and good cheer will be missed. What a nice guy...
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From:
Reza Zaidi
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Saturday, July 16, 2016
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Some people are larger than life and Paul surely was one; one of the most memorable and loving man I know. He took us all (Mary and her friends) to Huntington Gardens with canvases and paint and brush in hand for all of us. And, most of us had not painted since our tender years. I did not feel intimidated or concerned or felt any lack. Paul's joy carried us into painting and laughter. Afterwards, over dinner at an Italian restaurant on La Brea, the waiter just shook his head cause he could not figure out who was eating what; we were all passing the dishes, sharing and playing around.
One of my most memorable Father's day was when I picked up Paul from the airport and dropped him at Charlotte's place; the conversation and Paul's company is one of the finest moments of my life.
Most conversations I had with Paul live with me day to day and I retell some of his remarks to anyone who would understand or benefit from it.
I for one one am so much richer and humbled for having known Paul; such great fortune!
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From:
David Cornell
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Saturday, July 9, 2016
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To Rosemary Robinson and family, from Dave Cornell, July 9m 2016,
As teaching colleague with Paul in the Physics Department at Principia College, Elsah, IL, I can testify to the joy of working by his side with students and in the lecture hall. Students always came first with Paul. It didn't matter whether it was in the office, lab, or lecture hall. What served them was number one. Next to that was his generous flexibility. Whenever I suggested an idea, Paul was likely to respond, "why not?" He was ready to try out teaching ideas like lab experiments. Some ideas worked and others didn't. He was gracious in the evaluation. His life as a physics teaching was universal love expressed.
As an aside, I add that he brought his professional associations into practice. His idea of a board of professionals to consider and evaluate our program from outside the college was a grand idea. It involved alumni and outside professionals together for the ultimate benefit of the program, including faculty and students.
I am thankful to Paul, for his ever-joyous and pragmatic enthusiasm for teaching. His is an example worthy of emulation.
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From:
Mary Hendra
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Wednesday, July 6, 2016
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With Much love, from Marie Jureit-Beamish and family: We have such happy memories of Paul and you at Principia College. Paul's joy, his infectious laugh, his love of life and family, his extraordinary role as teacher and mentor, his energy and zest for life are qualities I will always cherish. Of course, I will always cherish our special time together on the River Cruise in 2006 as well, our last lengthy time spent together. Paul was always so interested in what everyone was doing--a real quest for and interest in those around him. I always especially appreciate how enthusiastic he was about his grandchildren--the loves of his life. His constant devotion as a husband to Rosemary for 50 years serves as a model for all of us in our relationships. Although he will be missed, the qualities he lived are with all of us forever. Just like God, Paul is always just a thought away. He is now on a different journey, but we can always trust that he is fine. Although we can't see him, he is still with us.
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From:
Paul & Judy Beckett
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Wednesday, July 6, 2016
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From: Paul Beckett
My Memories of Robby,
Paul and I were freshman roommates at Principia College. To avoid the confusion of having two Pauls as close friends, he became Robby to some of us. Being chemistry and physics students and living together in Rackham Court East gave us much in common. Another bond was our shared delight in the Pogo comic strips, so we started the Pogo Club. All members had to represent a character from the strip, and, you guessed it, he was the perfect Pogo! Robby loves to tell the story of how we would figure out who on campus was most like the crazy characters we loved (all animals in Okefenokee Swamp) and invite them to join the club; nobody was allowed to decline. At our crazy club dinners we all gave speeches and acted in character. Of course, the club parties were held in the physics lab!
Robby’s first scientific experiment we did together. Dr. Lyons, our chemistry professor, gave us a test question that, unknown to his students, had no known solution. We independently made the same guess. He gave us credit, and said, “Why don’t you try it?” We spent many evenings together in the lab trying unsuccessful experiments. Finally we told Dr. Lyons we had failed. He laughed and told us that many people in industry and universities had tried the same approach and failed, but he hoped we would be the first to solve the problem. Robby’s career went all up from there! He never stopped tackling unsolved problems.
For Robby, waking up in the morning from a deep sleep was difficult. When required I would reach under the sheets, grab hold of his ankles, and slide him out onto the floor. After my balancing him out the door, he would make it to the shower. This process was torture to him, but he forgave me. That’s our Robbie!
Our friendship and love have continued to grow through the decades. Seeing Robby and Rosemary’s romance flourish at Principia was a joy. I was privileged to be part of their wedding 50 years ago. It was so special with copies of the Swiss Family Robinson being given to all the guests. Our families shared Christmas gatherings. I enjoyed the love and happiness he experienced with his wonderful daughters, Charlotte and Mary; and then being Poppop for Charlotte’s boys.
I will miss our conversations in which he would share his latest dreams, his plans to make new things (like wooden pens, paintings and needlepoints), and his yearning for new experiences. Recently my wife Judy and I joined him for his first adventure scuba diving in the Channel Islands. He played us his first tunes on a banjo. He taught my godson to throw a boomerang. He never tired of teaching the things he loved.
I love recalling these memories of our wonderful Robby.
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From:
Mary Hendra
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Monday, July 4, 2016
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We all chuckle at the banjo. Like many objects, it comes with a story or two. My mom tells the first story best, but let’s just say it starts with my father coming home suspecting a normal relaxed reading of the local paper, and ends with his being attributed with leading a banjo band. But the second banjo story is more recent. At one point, I fell into being caretaker for many of the musical instruments in the family, including two banjos. There was no real reason for me to hang onto two banjos. I play piano and guitar, dabbled with violin for a few years, and never mastered any wind instruments, though there were some recorders in the collection as well. I did not expect the banjos would be missed by my father, whose piano teacher when he was a boy told my grandmother “You are wasting your money.” My father generally agreed (banjo band notwithstanding), saying often that his daughters and wife had the musical ability, he played the stereo. Banjo was not on my list of instruments to learn, but I couldn’t see parting with it. Then, several years go, my father asked if he could borrow (his own) banjo! “Of course!” and off he went, after decades of being considered to have no musical ability, learning how to actually play a banjo. He learned hymns and Beatles music. He played exuberantly, if never quite ready to play for anyone but family. And so, the banjo makes me smile. My dad never stopped wanting to learning new things, and didn’t accept limits on himself either!
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From:
Mary Hendra
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Saturday, July 2, 2016
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There is no equation for the path of a boomerang. A puzzle worth pondering for someone like my father. Also a fact it might have been comforting to know as I tried to complete the project for my AP physics class - design, make, and throw a boomerang, then describe its path (in an equation. Did I say my father was my AP Physics teacher?
I love thinking about it. He knew that scientific discoveries come when people don't know something is “impossible.” He would have been so tickled for one of his high school physics teenagers to figure out the path of the boomerang mathematically!
Sitting in my father's workspace, a loft as close to an artist studio as he ever have, I look up to see has eleven boomerangs mounted near the ceiling.
He tried different designs, collected different shapes. He has the “m” I created for AP Physics. I could barely even throw it at the time, let alone chart its path. He created an “R” for his wife, my mother, as well.
I love that he saw no limits to anybody’s possibility. I love that he held onto curious questions that kept him seeking new insight in the fields he loved. He never stopped wanting to learn more and to encourage others to keep asking questions.
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