Hubert L. Robinson

Hubert L. Robinson “Robby”, 92, of Greenbelt, MD, passed peacefully on November 29, 2015. The only child of Curtis and Essie Robinson, Robby was born on January 6, 1923 in Durham, North Carolina. Robby attended public schools in Durham and graduated from Hillside High School, Class of 1940. He received an athletic scholarship and began college at North Carolina Central University in 1941. In May 1943, during World War II, Robby was called to service in the military. He served in the United States Army for two and a half years and was awarded a Silver Battle Star for heroic service in five battle campaigns in the European Theater of Operations. Shortly after entering the military in 1943, Robby married his college sweetheart, Cora Day. Following discharge from military service in 1945, Robby and Cora returned to North Carolina Central University. In 1946, he was selected all C.I.A.A. and subsequently, inducted into the University Football Hall of Fame. Robby earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from North Carolina Central University in 1947 and a Master’s Degree from the University of Atlanta School of Social Work in 1949. In the summer of 1949, Robby launched his professional career as a Youth Counselor with the New York City Youth Board. In 1953, he was appointed Parole Officer with the New York State Division of Parole. Four years later, he was appointed U.S. Probation Officer for the Southern District of New York. In 1973, Robby reached the pinnacle of his professional career when he became the first person of color appointed as Assistant Chief of Probation, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, District of Columbia, a position from which he retired in 1978. Within a few weeks of retirement, Robby became the first African American appointed as Chief Probation Officer by the New Jersey State Division of Parole and Probation, Union County Court, in Elizabeth. Upon his return to Maryland in 1980, Robby was appointed Probation Supervisor I, State Division of Probation and Parole Investigative Unit for the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville. He later worked as a consultant and liaison for the Barry-Spector Congressional Oversight Committee for the District of Columbia Department of Corrections. Robby has a daughter, Jewel, and a son, Keith, and one granddaughter. He was considered Dad by Claire and Jeffrey Fortier, and grandfather to their children. Carol Fortier was his life partner for over forty years. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Hubert L. Robinson please visit our Sympathy Store.