Catherine Robinson, loving mother, grandmother and passionate tennis enthusiast was reunited with her sweetheart and favorite dance partner on St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2022. She was defined by her humor, her faith, and her love of family.
Preceded in death by her parents Mary and Edward O’Doherty, her husband, John, her daughter, Karen and her sister Mary Edna Helfer, Kitty is survived by 6 children: Kevin Robinson, Keith Robinson (Allison), Kathleen Stein (Jack), Kimberly Dean (Martin), Kyle Robinson (Rebecca) and Kelly Robinson (Kelli), 18 grandchildren (Rebecca, John, Caitlin, Scott, Daniel, Hannah, Jack, John, Seamus, Declan, Kyle John, Conor, Kate, Jonathan, Sarah, Ben, Parker and Ella Jene), 2 great grandchildren (Peter & Evie) and her sister Rosella Stock.
Kitty was dedicated to her family. She raised 7 children with humor and grace and joyfully attended hundreds and hundreds of sporting events as a grandparent/super fan. She made her grandchildren’s accomplishments “go viral” before the internet by carrying newspaper clippings wherever she went.
Kitty was a woman of deep faith and demonstrated a lifelong commitment to service. Her long resume of leadership and volunteer activities ranged from service to the Catholic church to “volunteer of the year” for the regional chapter of American Cancer Society. In her early years, in Canton, Ohio, Kitty was a minor celebrity as the chairwoman of the Community Welcome Wagon. She was a parish council leader at Our Lady of Peace and when the Robinson family moved to Seminole, Florida Kitty became a vibrant member of the St. Jerome’s Church community. Kitty served as a Eucharistic minister her entire adult life and most recently was deeply committed to assuring residents of Lake Seminole Square and other homebound parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and St. Matthews received communion.
For nearly 30 years Kitty volunteered at the Clearwater Jazz festival where she was able to combine her love of Jazz and her skill as an organizer and social butterfly. It was common knowledge that it could take Kitty up to 2 hours to leave church for all the chatting. She was a generous philanthropist to many causes she held dear. Having lost her father to cancer Kitty’s generosity was most profoundly realized in the dedication of a family suite at the Hope Lodge, a refuge for families battling cancer, which was named for her beloved husband John Robinson.
Kitty was a cherished friend retaining lifelong friendships developed as far back as Notre Dame High School, her days with John Robinson dancing on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in Philadelphia, and her Canton, Ohio “gourmet club” which was mostly an excuse for a raucous monthly party. While she was a state tennis champion (Florida 75+ Women’s Doubles!), her various tennis circles through the years were beloved companions and where there were tennis balls there was always gregarious laughter. Her laughter will be missed most of all.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the organizations to which Kitty dedicated so many of her gifts:
The Lake Seminole Square Scholarship Fund (501c3)
8333 Seminole Blvd. #400
Seminole, Florida 33772
The American Cancer Society
Suncoast Hospice
Service Details:
Saturday February 19, 2022
Visitation at St. Jerome in Seminole 10:30-11:30 followed by mass at 11:30
St Jerome Catholic Church
10895 HAMLIN BLVD.
LARGO, FL 33774-5051
