Jean Elmer Robinson

Hanover, N.H. — Jean Elmer Robinson died at her home at Kendal at Hanover on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. The daughter of Wellington and Elizabeth Taylor Elmer, and step-daughter of Paul M. Butterworth, she was born in Bronxville, N.Y. in 1927, and grew up in Hartford, Conn. She received her AB degree from Smith College and an MSN degree from Yale University School of Nursing. She was a public health nurse in Connecticut prior to serving in the Philippines with her now ex-husband, the Rev. Franklin K. Robinson, at the Brent School in Baguio and Holy Trinity Church in Zamboanga City. Later they were active in the campus ministry at the University of Rochester and in a parish in Greenwich, Conn.

After moving to Hanover in 1974, Mrs. Robinson enjoyed working for more than 20 years in a variety of nursing and teaching positions at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. An active participant in the Hanover and Kendal communities, she belonged to the Religious Society of Friends and served for several years as Clerk of the Quaker Worship Group at Kendal. Jeanie enjoyed traveling throughout her life. She participated in a work camp in post-war France; survived an Austrian avalanche; camped for four months in Turkey, the Holy Land, Greece and Europe with her young family; travelled in Nepal and Bhutan; stayed in an ashram in Bali, and in village homes in the Cook Islands, American Samoa and Fiji; and was a member of an American medical team studying geriatrics in China. In her fifties she got into shape for a trek with Tenzing Norgay in Sikkim, a peak experience of her life. She enjoyed reading biographies, making pottery, doing puzzles, woodworking, studying Renaissance art, watching old movies, kayaking and cutting brush around her beloved Squam Lake.

Most of all she was devoted to her large family. She was predeceased by two stepbrothers, Oliver and Harrison Butterworth; step-sister, Virginia Parmalee; and a foster-sister, Shizue Dobashi. She is survived by a sister, Lucy Townsend of Wellesley, Mass.; by her former husband, Franklin Robinson of Sarasota, Fla.; and by her children, Morgan Robinson (and partner, Patti Waller) of Seattle, Beth Robinson (husband, Alan Dehmer) of Chapel Hill, N.C., Mary Mailand (husband, Ron) of Center Sandwich, N.H., Deborah Robinson (husband, Jay Cary) of Lyme, N.H. and Kenneth Robinson of Seattle. Grandchildren, Noah and Zoe Dehmer, Sam and Dillon Mailand, Ellenora and Rowan Cary also survive her as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Kendal, who cared for her so kindly for many years and especially over the past few months.

A memorial service to celebrate Jeanie’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Kendal at Hanover.

Memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders, https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/. A guestbook is available for condolences at www. rand-wilson.com/

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover.