Bill Robinson - 1934-2016

Wilma Kenny and Jeff Green | Dec 21, 2016

Bill Robinson passed away Dec 15th, on his 82nd birthday, after almost a year of poor health following a broken hip. He had served as a Portland district rep on South Frontenac Council since 2000.

Bill was fearless and steady in his support of his constituents, and he had a keen eye for assessing, and if need be, questioning budget expenditures. He was a treat to watch at a community meeting, especially at campaign time. Nobody could hold audience attention like Bill could, with his trademark blend of humour, opinion and down-home common sense.

His wife Donna managed the Portland waste site for many years, and that’s where on weekends Bill held informal polls on various community issues. After her retirement, he moved his polls to a local restaurant. And he brought his findings back to the Council chambers. Bill never really took to Facebook; he preferred good plain face-to-face contact with people.

As a young man Bill played hockey: it’s been said he could have turned pro, had he wished to.
In 1952, aged 18, he enlisted in the Canadian army and in May a year later, fought in one of the deadliest and least-known battles of the Korean War: Hill187. This battle raged for two days, and left many dead and wounded. Bill himself suffered a concussion and the permanent loss of hearing in one ear, but continued on patrol for the remaining four months of the war.

He later remarked, “A doctor cleaned the blood out of my ear and said I was ok. It was only after that I found out he was a psychiatrist, not an MD.”After leaving the military in 1969, Bill worked for the prison service in various capacities until his retirement in 1998.

He was a dedicated caregiver to his wife in their latter years.

Jim Gratto, who served in the army with Bill, described him this week in this way: “he was rough and tumble, a goofy guy, an honest guy that’s for sure. Back in the army we all backed each other up, none more so than Bill.”

South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal, who served on Council with Bill for ten years, sitting next to him at meetings for most of that time, said “you always knew where Bill stood on things. And when he really had something to say, he would stand up. That’s when you just knew he was about to let go on something or somebody.”

Even though he had not been to a council meeting since February, no one was in a hurry to replace him on South Frontenac Council. He was elected to council five consecutive elected time and served for over 15 years, making him the longest serving councillor in the post amalgamation era of Frontenac County. When interviewed during the 2014 election, he correctly predicted that the Petworth Road subdivision proposal in Hartington would be a major issue for this council, and said he opposed any changes to Stars Corners in Harrowsmith (a project that is in fact  going ahead next year)

A minute of silence was held at South Frontenac Council on Tuesday Night, and his wake and funeral were held on Wednesday morning in Sydenham. Discussion of how he will be replaced on Council was deferred until the new year.