This is a particularly painful obituary editorial for us to write not because Eddie Robinson was a sterling human being, a spectacular philanthropist, a lover of people, of animals and of community. As we shall enumerate below, none of these adjectives are exaggerations. But of particular pain in the loss of Eddie Robinson is the loss of friend, a joy to be around, a person who did serious things but did not take himself seriously — instead, making everyone around him smile.
Family piety: another trait of Eddie Robinson that he wore on his shirt sleeve. Into his nineties — till he died, Eddie deferred to his older brother Dick Robinson, because a younger brother defers to an older one. This was of the essence of Eddie Robinson. Family piety.
In talking to Eddie, it was if his father Sam Robinson, his grandfather Hyman Robinson, his great-uncle Morris Robinson and Morris’ son-in-law “Doc” Davine, and Eddie’s great-grandfather Louis Robinson were all right there with him. And in a concrete way, they were. Great-grandfather Louis Robinson, who came to Colorado from the “Old Country” in 1885 and founded a dairy farm, granted farmland to the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society.
The Robinsons, down through Dick and Eddie, have been granting gifts ever since. It’s in the genes.
JCRS saved thousands of lives from all over the US. Cue: Dick and Eddie Robinson served on, or chaired, the boards of more worthy causes than one can remember. Among them: Rose Medical Center, National Jewish Health, St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Allied Jewish Federation.
Eddie, with his expertise in dairy farming (“Nobody has ever gotten sick from our milk,” he once told the IJN), had a particular fondness for the Denver Zoological Foundation, whose board he chaired.
Our fondness for the Robinsons is not unique. Every philanthropy the Robinsons favored were favored with good cheer, a love of giving, a dedication to others —and the Robinson warmth.
Everyone sought out Eddie Robinson —rarely could a philanthropist be so much fun. See the diversity in the list of his favorite causes: ADL, BMH-BJ, Denver Art Museum, Mile High United Way, Opera Colorado, Colorado Neurological Institute. You’ll have to take us at our word: this is but a partial list of his philanthropic interests.
The Robinsons were inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 2000 and received the coveted Citizens of the West Award in 2009. This, too, is but a partial list of the Robinsons’ major awards.
The finest award that Eddie Robinson received is the award he gave: friendship, camaraderie, a good heart, an unpretentious manner, a zest for life.
It’s really hard to accept that that zest is no longer with us. We were in touch with Eddie as recently as a month ago. He had been telling us for more than 10 years that he wouldn’t live another five; it was delightful to see him proven wrong twice. But now he goes to his eternal reward. Now he is deeply missed by family, friends and community alike. He is deeply missed by us.
Pirkei Avot must have had Eddie Robinson in mind when it said: “A good name surpasseth them all.”
© IJN 2025
