James F. Robinson

He was born in San Diego, CA, on September 26, 1944, and spent his early years in Sayre, OK. The family moved to Enid, where he graduated from Enid High School and Phillips University, and then served in the U.S. Navy. He earned his J.D. from Oklahoma City University.

He married Denise Sheltman on June 5, 1981. He passed away on the 43rd anniversary of their first date.

Jim was a proud 50-year member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He worked briefly in private practice, but quickly realized his passion was in public service. He worked as a city attorney, and as an Assistant District Attorney for Oklahoma County before joining the Department of Justice. In his 32 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he served under 16 U.S. Attorneys. He tried or appeared in over 150 cases, including bench and jury trials in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and was counsel of record in over 30 cases at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Jim began his career as an AUSA prosecuting drug and gun crimes. Later in his career he gave up drugs and became an expert in white collar financial crimes from fraud to counterfeiting. His cases took him to Nigeria, eastern Europe, Russia and several former soviet bloc countries. He liked working internationally so much that he accepted a two-year post as the Regional Legal Advisor for Central Asia at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Throughout his life, Jim made a hobby of exploring new hobbies. He loved music and learning to play new songs on the guitar. He tried out skydiving, trod the boards at Oklahoma Theatre Center, was a runner, took flying lessons, learned Karate, discovered rowing, and enjoyed biking. He dabbled in Russian, undertook many furniture-making projects, collected antiques, and baked countless cheesecakes and loaves of bread.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James T. and Tommye Conway Robinson, and his brother, Phil. He is survived by his wife, Denise, daughter Jennifer (Nick Bartkoski), and son, Christopher (Aimee); grandchildren Thomas and Leo Bartkoski and Milo and Elliette Robinson; sister-in-law Suzy Robinson, nephew Bryant Robinson (Emily), and great-nieces Pippa and Stella; and his last in a long line of Scottish Terriers, Effie.

A visitation for James will be held Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with family to receive guests from 4:00 - 6:00 PM, at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 13313 North Kelley, Oklahoma City, OK 73131.

A funeral service will occur Friday, February 23, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Memorial Park Historic Cemetery Chapel, 13400 North Kelley, Oklahoma City, OK 73131.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma or WildCare Oklahoma.