Posted on 03/09/2018
Barbara Blair Robinson (1922 – 2018)
Barbara was born on December 14, 1922. She grew up in Mt. Lebanon, a suburb outside of Pittsburgh, PA. After graduating from high school she went to National Park, a wonderful girls' finishing school near Washington D.C. The girls would often attend dances at the Naval Academy and that was where she met her future husband Midshipman Samuel J. Robinson Jr. Upon his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1943, they married in Mt Lebanon. Shortly after, he was shipped off to war in the Pacific on the submarine Pintado. He returned from the war two years later. During the 30 years that he served in the U.S. Navy they moved frequently, sometimes two or three times a year. When Cap't Sam retired, he and Barbara chose Sonoma as their permanent home and began a whole new life. They finally had roots, could make lasting friends and could finally become involved in a community. Barbara had always loved dance, gourmet cooking and entertaining. She would frequently be "shuffling off to Buffalo" while preparing a special dish for friends. In her 70s she began a tap class for "seniors". Shortly they began to get requests to perform at events and organizations around town. They called themselves the Sonoma Rockettes and were met with much enthusiasm whenever they performed. Barbara also became quite involved with the Sonoma Republican Woman's Club and soon became president of the club. She frequently gathered with special friends in town called the "lunch bunch" and also loved meeting up with her friends at the Sonoma Mission Inn Spa. Both Barbara and Sam were members of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and had very fond memories of heart-filled preaching and wonderful friends that they met there. In 2001, Sam and Barbara moved to a retirement home in Carlsbad, Carlsbad by the Sea. They hated to leave Sonoma but knew they would need extra care as they aged. Barbara lived there for 16 years and moved to assisted living, after Sam passed away in 2009. In 2016 she moved to Arbor Victoria, a board and care in Carlsbad, where she lived out her last years in a very loving and caring environment. Barbara passed away on February 6, 2018. Her daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law were by her side. She was 95. Her ashes will be placed next to Cap't Sam's, over-looking the Pacific Ocean at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma, CA. She is survived by her daughter Cindy Mendoza (Bob) from San Mateo, her son Blair Robinson (Donna Jackson) new residents of Petaluma since the Santa Rosa fires, her grandson Greg Sieglitz from Sisters, OR, granddaughter Michele Sieglitz from Brisbane, CA and a sister Suzanne Murray (Roger) from Longwood , FL. Barbara was preceded in death by her older sister Caroline Uddstrom. Barbara's life will be celebrated on March 16th at 11:00 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 16290 Arnold Dr. Sonoma. A reception with a light lunch will be served following the service.
Published in the Sonoma Index-Tribune from Mar. 9 to Mar. 10, 2018