Captain Richard ”Robbie” Robinson
June 19, 1920 - Aug 16, 2005
Loving husband of Catherine, father of Richard, and grandfather of Geoffery
Born in Colchester and growing up on the Isle of Wight, Robbie had a love of the sea as a young lad and spent most of his life deep sea or sailing the Great Lakes. As an HMS Conway graduate at the age of sixteen, he started his career in the British merchant service and soon began travelling the world. During the Second World War Robbie saw duty as a merchant service officer on the dangerous Murmansk run. Later, as a Master Mariner, Captain Robinson skippered everything from tug boats on the west coast, to freighters and oil tankers travelling the world’s oceans.
He found Catherine, the love of his life, while he was serving as Chief Officer on a transatlantic voyage. They were married in Glasgow in 1946 and soon immigrated to Canada with their son, Richard. Retiring and moving from Toronto in 1981 Robbie became a fixture on the Comox waterfront skippering his sailboats and always lending a helping hand to fellow sailors.
Robbie was predeceased by his step-brother Humphrey, and brothers David and Geoffrey. Geoffrey was also a Master Mariner skippering Cable and Wireless ships laying undersea telephone cable.
Friends of Robbie and Cathie are invited to celebrate the life and share memories of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather on Sunday, August 21st at 1:00 PM at Comox Valley Funeral Home 1101 Ryan Road, Courtenay.
In lieu of flowers, please support the St. Joseph’s General Hospital Foundation 2137 Comox Avenue, Comox, BC V9M 1P2.