Phillip (Phil) Robinson
Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
― George Bernard Shaw
Our dad died. He was such a force of nature that none of us were prepared for the grim reality of that statement. His was a life lived with passion, integrity, grit, absurdity, curiosity, courage, love, generosity, and kindness.
Phil was a devoted father to Nancy, Bill, and Michael and loving pop-pop to Jennifer, Max, Zachary, Alec, Olivia, and Nathalie. We can’t list his many cherished friends or dogs, birds, and cats, although we will say he is somewhere now holding his cigar and beloved Pomeranian Suki.
Dad was born in Rochester, New York in 1925 to a family he often referred to as lovable kooks, like Cousin Jake who was legally blind but still drove everywhere. You need to know we’re a family of drivers. Our dad made countless road trips, mostly from New Jersey to Canada. He would often claim to have the ability to drive around a storm rather than through it without detouring, but he never actually did. There are several ditches between Plattsburgh and Montreal that look familiar.
Our dad lived through the Great Depression and, at 17, enlisted to serve in World War II. He was the only one in his family to go to college, and the only liberal Democrat. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, he opened his own practice, became a successful real estate developer, and was twice elected mayor of Ventnor, New Jersey, before setting his sights on Canada.
Phil’s American friends brought him to Quebec where they taught him to ski by leaving him to figure his own way down the Expo on Mont Tremblant. Despite, or because of that experience, Phil purchased Mont Blanc Ski Center in 1976. He expanded Mont Blanc from a handful of drafty dormitories to a full-service hotel, from one peak to three, and from 10 trails to more than 40. Through his vision and persistence, he remade Mont Blanc into a favorite family destination. The place was imbued with his personality. He loved steam showers, so every hotel room was equipped with a steam unit. He missed Nick’s Roast Beef sandwiches from South Philly, so he added hot roast beef on a Kaiser roll to the bar menu. One of his kids (who shall remain nameless) was a dreadful skier, so he built an easier trail for her. When he had grandkids, he constructed Jungle Magic for them and every other excited child and grateful parent in the area. In 1993, he resurrected Gray Rocks Resort from bankruptcy, which allowed 200+ local employees to keep their jobs. He endeared himself to the people of his adopted home, even though his French consisted of ‘bonjour’, ‘oui’ and ‘l’addition.’
True to his family traits, our dad was an eccentric. He cut a recognizable figure with a cigar hanging from his mouth, proud to show anyone interested (or not) the chewed, moist end as proof it wasn’t lit. You could frequently find him wearing his signature tweed jacket, each and every pocket bursting with papers, pens, cigars, mints, dog treats and whatever else would fit.
He was a rescuer of people and animals, an avid golfer, sculptor, world traveler, and reader. He was always pushing a book on astrophysics. For us, he was a consummate and reliable source of wisdom and the ultimate provider. Even as a man of means, he was entirely unassuming; he was the same with everyone. Sharp, proud, and self-reliant until the end, he resisted anyone doing for him or treating him as less than fully capable.
It was a shock to us all that he was not immortal.
Our dad will make his final road trip through Albany back to his beloved Philadelphia family this week. Details about the funeral in Philadelphia will be posted at paperman.com. In lieu of flowers, we think our dad would appreciate it if you saved your money, or, if you insist, give to the hospitals that took care of him, Jewish General Hospital Foundation, (514) 340-8251, or to the ‘Fondation Médicale des Laurentides et des Pays-d’En-Haut,’ (819) 323-4565.
A kiss on top of your head, dad.
Your loving children, Nancy, Billy and Michael Robinson

Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Phillip Phil Robinson 2020..

paperman

Death notice for the town of: Montreal, Province: Quebec

death notice Phillip Phil Robinson 2020

mortuary notice Phillip Phil Robinson 2020