Gordon Robinson passed away on January 30, 2019 in Hospice Care in Hanson, Massachusetts. He has been laid to rest 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 ranking 2nd of 90 engineering graduates earning a Fellowship at the University of Michigan where he received an M.A. degree in 1965. After graduating he secured a position at Combustion Engineering, now ABB, in Hartford, Connecticut. He returned to school at Northwestern University earning a PhD in Engineering in 1974.
Gordon’s life was one of passion for matters, about which he cared, his wife, his work, his faith as well as less fundamental things such as motorcycles, Grand Prix Auto racing, trains, railroads and the Chicago Bears.
Gordon’s brother Steven has many fond memories of their visits over the years. In high school, Gordon was an avid Chicago Bears fan. Gordon rigged an antenna in his back yard so he could listen to the Chicago Bear games on Sunday. From 1966 to 1989, Steven had the opportunity to get together with Gordon. He had the chance to spend 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. Steven’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 had the opportunity to visit with Gordon’s friends and take a ride up to Mountain View Cemetery, which overlooks the Hartford area and where Gordon now rests.
At Northwestern University, Gordon met Ginny Hussey. They married June 24, 1973 in Williamstown, MA. During their first year of marriage, Gordon and Ginny lived near Cleveland, OH while Gordon finished his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University.
After completing his studies, Gordon secured a position at Clemson University as a professor in the Engineering department, while Ginny worked as a choir director at Liberty High School. They lived and worked in Clemson for three years. At that time, Gordon made a decision to return to private industry. He accepted a position at Combustion Engineering again in Hartford. He was a leading engineer at the company for over 25 years, while Ginny secured a position as 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.
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 the All-American Assisted Living facility in Hanson, MA, his brother and friend Dr. Stephen W. Robinson of Maui, HI, his cousin Ellen Robinson Chack of Mifflintown, 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, who were associates in his business affairs in 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.