John Anthony "Tony" Robinson

SUNRISE - SUNSET

December 11, 1968 - March 26, 2023

Mr. John Anthony Robinson was born on December 11, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Mrs. Joan Miller and Mr. James Robinson Jr. John graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Philadelphia, where he excelled academically and in football. He spent a brief time in college and shifted his course when he decided to enlist in the United States Army. He heroically served as a Combat Medical Specialist and earned the Expert Medical Badge. He was saving the lives of wounded soldiers on the battlefield and Honorably Discharged as a Desert Storm War Time Veteran!

After his military tour, John returned to college at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, where he majored in Nursing and played on the football team. He was initiated through Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated on April 4, 1994, through the Mu Epsilon Chapter. He was a Financial Member At-Large. He maintained a close camaraderie with his Frat Brothers for almost 30 years! John graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. After college he played professional football in the Arena Football League, as an Offensive Lineman for the New Jersey Red Dogs. He suffered a career ending injury in his rookie year. This marked the beginning of his lifelong career as a Critical Care Nurse for over 26 years. He worked in several hospitals in the D.C. Metropolitan area, spending over 8 years at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

John was initiated, passed, and raised as a Master Mason on Saturday, July 3, 2011, at the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge on 10th and U Streets NW, Washington D.C. during the 100th Centennial of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. He was a member of the Thomas L. Johnson Lodge No. 28, of 1000 U Street, N.W., in the District of Columbia. John then continued his Masonic travels by joining Salah Al-Din Temple No. 234 of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, Incorporated in Landover, MD in April of 2016 which is affectionately known in Shrinedom as the “Que Temple” in social circles. John kept his Fraternity and Masonic affiliations very close to his heart as they often overlapped with his growth as a tried-and-true Brother.

John embarked upon a life changing, transformative journey that began April 2014 when he was chosen for ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss TV show. He lost 215 lbs. within one year, making history on the show! John wanted to fulfill one of his mother’s last wishes for him to get healthy again. This paradigm shift was the catalyst for his life’s mission, to help the world transform into a healthier existence!

John, affectionately called “Tony” by family and “Big John'' by many, had a vast array of talents and interests. He enjoyed cooking delicious meals for his wife & children and was a grill master like no other! He relished in making his special green smoothies and healthy concoctions for all to enjoy. He considered himself a vegan, although on occasion, he indulged in Popeye’s or Bojangles to get his fried chicken fix. To foster his personal growth, he was an avid reader of books of many genres. He was passionate about being an Entrepreneur, Investments in creating wealth, Inspiring others, Naturopathy, and Physical fitness. He enjoyed Hip-Hop music, action-packed movies, collecting comics, and had EVERY Gadget you could think of and then some! He was open to learning new things and believed that knowledge is power, instilling this into his children. He was truly one of a kind, a force to be reckoned with. John transitioned peacefully surrounded by loved ones and his memory will live on in every life he touched.

John is survived by his wife Crystal, his four children, Skylar, Tyson, John Jr. (Niesha), and Anthony (Colette); his father James Jr. (Gladys), his brother James III, his nephews Jeremy and Elijah; his Aunt Sylvia, his cousins Jeffrey (January), Alana, Jeffrey Jasper, and Joan (Jason) Hayden & Ava; as well as a host of extended family & Friends!

A Celebration of Life Service for Tony will be held Friday, April 21, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, 7250 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075. Military Honors will be rendered at 12:00 PM.

Services will be live-streamed via Facebook under Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.garylkaufmanfuneralhome.com for the Robinson family.