John Snowden Robottom

John (Jack) Snowden Robottom was born in Weatherly, Pennsylvania.

The family moved to Mystic, Connecticut when Jack’s father began working as an engineer at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CT. Jack graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and where he excelled in tennis, swimming and band, trombone being his instrument. Later Jack attended the University of Connecticut and graduated from the School of Law in 1958.

Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and served from 1943 -1945 in the European and Middle Eastern Theaters. Jack landed at Normandy, D-Day + 4. He also served as a bandsman and qualified as an expert rifleman. In 1950, Jack was recalled to serve in the Korean War where he served there for 3 years in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Installations Officer. He was awarded multiple medals and ribbons for his service in both wars.

Jack met his first wife Mary Jane Shaw while completing his service in Ohio. They married in 1953 and had 5 children together.

In 1962 Jack accepted a position as General Counsel for the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies, later to become the University of Texas at Dallas, and the family moved from Hartford, CT to Dallas, TX. In 1963, John F. Kennedy came to Dallas and was to recognize the Center at a luncheon being held at the Dallas Trade Mart and where Jack and Mary Jane were waiting for him to arrive that fateful day.

In 1976 Jack and Mary Jane divorced and in 1977 Jack married Dr. Mary Cimarolli, a professor of English Literature.

Jack stayed in the UT system until his retirement where his last position was Assistant Dean of Engineering at the University of Texas in Arlington. During this period, he made his most rewarding contribution as Executive Director of TAME, Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering. Beginning in 1976, TAME’s mission was to remedy the lack of female and minority participants in STEM industries by reaching out to them in their high school years and helping them prepare for college STEM programs. TAME continues that mission to this day.

Upon retirement, Jack and Mary purchased a cabin in the mountains in Angel Fire, NM. They divided their time between Angel Fire and their home in Richardson, TX for the next 20 years.

Jack was an avid reader, preferring non-fiction. He had an extensive library that covered the walls of several rooms in his house consisting mostly of philosophy, religion, history, and biographies.

Jack was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Richardson and attended Mass regularly until he was no longer able to do so.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents; Jack Leonard Robottom and Alice Emmaline (nee Kelly) Robottom, his brother, Dale Barton Robottom and Dale’s wife Phyllis, his first wife Mary Jane Robottom, and his daughter-in-law Jenny Robottom.

Jack is survived by his loving wife Mary Cimarolli Robottom who was at his side at the moment of his passing. They were married 45 years.

Jack is survived by his 5 children; Elizabeth Haase (Curtis), Jeremy Alice Veach (Jim), John Loren Robottom, Anderson Kelly (Dawna), and Sarah Reading (Bill), his grandchildren; Adam, Clover (Bill), Stephanie, and Rhys, and his great grandchildren; Ethan and Jacob sons of Clover and Bill.

Jack also leaves behind his loving little sister Cynthia Allin, whom he taught to swim by throwing her off the dock at South Beach, Groton Long Point when she was only 5, her husband Bob and their son Dan.

Jack is also survived by Mary’s children, his stepchildren, whom he loved dearly, Maria Koenig and Jim Cimarolli.

Jack was deeply loved by everyone in his family. His generosity, kindness and loving nature filled our hearts with love. We will miss him greatly.