Jack Charles Robinson

Jackie (Jack) C. Robinson, age 83, of Greeley, Colorado, passed away at UC Health – Greeley Hospital on Thursday, April 8, 2021. Jack was born to Walter Anthony Hutchins and Mattie Nancy (Robinson) Hutchins on June 6, 1937 in Savannah, Georgia, and was raised by his uncle and aunt Rev. Charles R. Robinson and Jessie Robinson. Jack married Nancy Barber on June 13, 1964 in Winter Haven, Florida. They were married for 56 years.

Jack graduated from DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida, in 1955. He entered the Army in 1956 and served until 1959, where he was part of the Third Army Band, Fort McPherson, Georgia. Upon leaving the Army, he entered Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music in 1963. He went on to graduate school at Indiana University, where he completed a Master’s Degree in Low Brass Instruments, and continued with doctoral coursework. He began his teaching career at the University of Northern Colorado in 1968 as a music professor of low brass instruments, and remained there for 33 years. When he retired, he was awarded Professor Emeritus of Music.

A love of lifting heavy weights began in his teens, and throughout college, Jack participated in weight lifting competitions and became the Florida Assn. A.A.U. Champion in Olympic Style Lifting. He was a 9 time National Champion in NASA (Natural Athlete Strength Association) Drug-Free Powerlifting and was inducted into the NASA Hall of Fame in 2011. Gym owner Tom Forsyth hosted the Jack Robinson Annual Lifting Classic for 9 years. Many of Jack’s close friends lifted and served as judges to support the sport of powerlifting.

Music was a major part of Jack’s life. In addition to his years as a music professor at UNC, he also performed with the Rocky Mountain Brass Quintet, sang opera, directed jazz bands, played in the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, and sang the National Anthem at UNC football games with the UNC Pride of the Rockies Marching Band.

Jack is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Mattie Robinson (Adrian) Carlisle, and Jennifer Robinson; sister Nita Denny; and grandchildren Max and Sasha, Jacob and Wren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Wanda Fisher; and brother Richard Hutchins.

Jack was a member of First United Methodist Church of Greeley and his services will be held there on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. Interment will be held at Linn Grove Cemetery following the church service. To join the service via livestream: https://www.facebook.com/fumcgreeleyco

Memorial contributions may be made to:

https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org/coloradocops Colorado Concerns of Police Survivors is a non-profit organization, which provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line-of-duty as determined by Federal criteria.

Don Yaxley Scholarship through the International Trombone Association

Please make checks payable to: ITA Endowment ℅ Irv Wagner 1429 Oakwood Dr. Norman, OK 73069. In the memo you may reference the Yaxley Scholarship in memory of Jack Robinson.