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Beloved longtime Akron Legal News employee passes away
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 1, 2022
Known for her stellar work ethic and love of family, Marlene Robinson carefully executed her job as a data entry associate at the Akron Legal News for over 25 years, leaving the position only when her health forced her to do so, said her eldest grandson Nick Robinson.
“My grandmother loved working,” said Nick. “She was an independent, hard working woman. She treasured her years at the Akron Legal News.”
On May 26, the lifelong resident of Kenmore passed away at home while surrounded by her family. She was 84.
“My grandmother was extremely involved in the lives of her grandkids,” said Nick. “Growing up I spent every weekend with her going to my cousins’ baseball, basketball and softball games.
“More recently, we spent time watching movies, doing yard work, going out to dinner and looking at family albums,” Nick said. “She gave me a thorough rundown of our family history.”
Akron Legal News General Manager Jason Croston said Robinson was a “great employee, friend and most importantly person.”
The two occasionally shared office space together.
“I loved hearing her stories about her family, fast pitch softball and tennis. She was very proud of her entire family, especially her grandchildren. She used to light up when talking about their achievements in sports and life.
“I am blessed to have known and worked with her for over 18 years,” said Croston. “She was a very loyal employee, who was always willing to help in any way. She was one of a kind and will be deeply missed by all of us here at the Akron Legal News.”
Born in Akron on Dec. 1, 1937, she was the eldest of Nicholas and Mary Hrubovcak’s five children.
Robinson grew up in Akron’s Kenmore neighborhood. She graduated from Kenmore High School in 1955, where she was a cheerleader.
She married Robby Robinson Sr. in August 1959. They had four boys.
“My grandmother was a competitive tennis player and she was married to men’s fast pitch softball,” said Nick.
In fact, her husband Robby Robinson Sr. was a well-known fast pitch softball player, who was inducted into the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame.
“When she turned 81, we went to Memphis because I was running the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. We stayed with my aunt and uncle and after the race we celebrated her birthday.”
From 1955 to 1962, Robinson was a secretary at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
She then worked part-time for the Board of Education in Akron, processing lunch tickets and performing secretarial-type duties.
Prior to starting her job as a data entry associate at the Akron Legal News in November 1989, Robinson was a secretary at Jones & Ross Inc.
“Marlene was a liaison between the paper and the courts,” said Bob Heffern, vice president and publisher of the Akron Legal News. “She was our eyes and ears and our public relations person in the courts.
“Her job entailed gathering information about new cases and legal notices from the municipal and common pleas courts in Summit County. She also collected details about sheriff sales and foreclosures for the paper. She had a work area in the Summit County Clerk of Courts Office as well as an office at the Legal News.
“Sometimes she would type up the information at the courthouse and other times she brought it back here.
“She loved her job and dealing with the court employees and they felt the same way about her,” said Heffern.
“Marlene was very instrumental in keeping legal notices in the Akron Legal News.
“She was a great employee and a friend,” said Heffern. “In fact even after her health problems forced her to leave the job at the end of 2019, we kept her office open in case she wanted to return. She always had a job with us.”
“Marlene was a beautiful person,” said Misty Zenner, legal notice specialist at the Akron Legal News. “She always made me smile when she came into the office.”
Kimberly Pierson, general manager of the Daily Legal News in Youngstown worked with Robinson for many years.
“When I started my job in 1993, I was located in Akron,” said Pierson. “Marlene was always energetic, happy and friendly. She loved to talk about her family. She loved tennis and I enjoyed listening to her stories about her tennis tournaments.
“In the last decade or so, the stories changed to those of her grandchildren, whom she adored,” Pierson said. “She couldn’t wait to brag about their successes, whether it be about school or sports.”
Akron Legal News Editor Susan Gutierrez said Robinson’s office was right next to her desk so they chatted a lot.
“I really got to know her and saw how much she cherished her kids and grandkids,” said Gutierrez, who worked with Robinson for over 10 years. “She always had the radio playing and often turned it up when Lady Gaga was singing. She was a huge fan.
“If music wasn’t playing then you can be sure it was because some tennis tournament was going on,” said Gutierrez. “She was a great tennis player in her day and a faithful tennis enthusiast. I really miss her jovial nature and bright smile. She always tilted the mood a bit to a brighter side whenever she came in.”
Robinson’s longtime friend Darlene Grimsley said she cared about everyone around her and was “kind” to everybody she met.
“I first met Marlene when I was around 17,” said Grimsley. “I used to babysit her boys. She was in my wedding in 1981 and we remained friends since then.
“Marlene cared deeply about her family,” said Grimsley. “She never missed any sporting event that her husband, children or grandkids were participating in.
“Marlene loved her job at the Akron Legal News,” said Grimsley, a paraprofessional at Nolley Elementary School in New Franklin. “She even tried to encourage me to come work with her, but I already had a job in the school system. Marlene was the kind of person who put 100% into anything she became involved in.
“She was very supportive of her family and friends,” said Grimsley. “And once she loved you, she loved you for life.”
Robinson was laid to rest on June 2 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.
She is survived by her sons Robby (Chris) Robinson, Scott (Carrie) Robinson, Neil Robinson and Rick (Jennifer) Robinson; her sister Carol (Tom) Duggan; grandchildren Nicole, Nicholas, Brooke, Robby, Nathan, Nolan, Avery, Noah, Owen and Drew; great-grandchild Dominick and many nieces and nephews.
Robinson’s husband Robby, parents Nicholas and Mary Hrubovcak and brothers Richard, Tom, and George Hrubovcak all preceded her in death.