JOHN M. ROBINSON

PORTLAND – John M. Robinson, 81, philanthropic civic leader and former president and chief exe-cutive officer of the C.H. Robinson Paper Co., died Sunday, July 9, 2006, at the Maine Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born in 1925 in Portland. He attended the Cottage Farms School in Cape Elizabeth, Deering High School and Deerfield Academy, where he graduated in 1943. After graduation, he joined the Navy V-12 Program and attended Tufts University, the University of Notre Dame and Harvard, and left the navy as an ensign as the war ended. After the war he attended Bowdoin College and graduated in 1947. After graduation, Mr. Robinson entered the family business, the C.H. Robinson Paper Co., at that time located on Commercial Street. He became president and chief executive officer of the company, over-seeing its expansion into the Massachusetts market. In Portland, the company expanded from its waterfront location to a modern plant on Franklin Street Arterial. The C.H. Robinson Co. was sold in its 100th year under the management of the Robinson family, to Rolland, Incorporated of Montreal, Quebec. As head of C.H. Robinson, Mr. Robinson held various significant posts in the paper industry, president of the Boston Paper Trade Association, director of the National Paper Trade Association and president of the New England Merchants Association. Mr. Robinson was also active in the greater Portland community as director and trustee of many organizations including the Maine National Bank, The Rufus Deering Company, The Maine Girls and Boys Club, The Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, Opportunity Farm, The American Red Cross, The Sun Savings Bank, Greater Portland Landmarks and Westbrook College. He was president of The Cumberland Club from 1982 to 1984, commodore of The Portland Yacht Club, 1969-1970 and was also a member of The Cruising Club of America. Mr. Robinson was a well-known yachtsman and in June of 1960, his 40-foot Concordia yawl, Diablo, was the first Maine yacht in 30 years entered in the biennial Newport to Bermuda Ocean race. In June of 1962, Diablo finished third in its class and seventh overall among 138 yachts in the Bermuda race, and in 1963, Diablo was declared the winner of the Marblehead to Halifax yacht race. Locally, he was a frequent competitor in the Monhegan Island Ocean Race. As a philanthropist, Mr. Robinson had a keen interest in land conservation. He was a trustee and treasurer of The Maine Coast Heritage Trust and so he was involved in many transactions involving the conservation of land along the coast of Maine. He was a landowner of significant property in Cape Elizabeth and through his great generosity, made it possible for the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust to acquire 83 acres of woodland and waterfront, now known as Robinson Woods. This land has been permanently preserved for the enjoyment of the public. It is used by hikers and cross-country skiers and offers access to vernal pools and wildlife habitats. Mr. Robinson is survived by his wife, Cornelia Leighton Robinson of Falmouth; his sister, Ann Elizabeth Strout of Cape Elizabeth; his brother, Timothy C. Robinson of Cape Elizabeth and Boston; his niece, Ann Strout Jones of Cape Elizabeth; his nephews, Frank S. Strout of Cape Elizabeth, Andrew R. Strout of Cape Elizabeth, Timothy W. Strout of Northport, N.Y., Anthony P. Robinson of Dallas, Michael B. Robinson of London, England, Tyler B. Robinson of New York City, Peter J. Robinson of Mexico City; and nine great-nieces and great-nephews; also surviving are four stepsons, James L. Madden of Round Hill, Va., David C. Madden of Manhattan Beach, Calif., Benjamin D. Madden of Cos Cob, Conn., Geoffrey G. Madden of New York City; and seven stepgrandchildren. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held 4 p.m. Friday, July 28, at State Street Church UCC, 159 State St., Portland. The Rev. Jeanette A. Good, PhD will officiate. A reception will be held immediately after at The Cumberland Club, 116 High St., Portland. Arrangements are by Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Maine Community Foundation, John M. Robinson Fund, One Monument Square, Suite 200 Portland, ME 04101. Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home & Cremation Service.