Morgan Hill lost one of its most valued citizens on Friday when
Ida Robinson died after a short and final illness. Robinson
celebrated her 100th birthday just last month at a huge party
attended by her large, adoring family, city dignitaries and hordes
of friends of all ages.
Morgan Hill lost one of its most valued citizens on Friday when Ida Robinson died after a short and final illness. Robinson celebrated her 100th birthday just last month at a huge party attended by her large, adoring family, city dignitaries and hordes of friends of all ages.
At a birthday party when she turned 99, Robinson amused the crowd with her philosophy of life.
“I’m not old,” she said, “I’ve just been here a long time.”
On Friday it was different.
Robinson’s daughter Patricia Pennington-Faler quoted her mother as saying “I’m tired; I can’t do it anymore.”
Robinson spent her century insisting on – and making – a good life for her children and insisting on – and making – an easier and better life for Morgan Hill’s senior citizens.
While she had long-since retired from active volunteer life, Robinson will be remembered for helping to bring Mervyn’s to Morgan Hill, for handiwork that boosted boutique sales, for improving the senior center and for her personality and enthusiasm.
“Gosh, yes, I’ll miss her,” said Margaret Johnston, who considered Robinson her second mother. The feeling was mutual, Pennington-Faler said. Johnston’s own mother had also lived to the 100 mark.
“I’ve missed her for a long time already,” Johnston said. The two shared a love for the San Martin Presbyterian Church.
Lassoing Mervyn’s was Robinson’s most visible civic achievement.
“She went before the City Council and told them the seniors in town needed a Mervyn’s,” said Linda Hartman, who adopted Robinson as her ‘grandmother’ 10 years ago.
Robinson visited the construction site at Cochrane Plaza – in her late 80s – carrying a golden shovel, wearing a golden hard hat.
Robinson moved to Morgan Hill in the early 1970s and immediately jumped into community life. She was never afraid of hard work, her daughter Patricia Pennington-Faler said.
“She was a “giving” person and never, ever bashful. If somebody needed something, Mom would go out and get it for them.”
Grandson David Daggett said Ida was a fantastic grandmother (and great-great grandmother to one).
“She always had time for us,” he said.
Robinson, who was born Ida Jeanette Neves in Sacramento on Jan. 7, 1903, was preceded in death by her husband and, according to Pennington-Faler, the love of her life, Harold “Pop” Robinson; her daughter Marjorie; son Jack Daggett; great-granddaughter, Jennifer; parents Joseph and Paddy Neves and seven brothers and sisters.
Besides Pennington-Faler and her husband Denny Faler, Robinson is survived by a daughter-in-law Karla Daggett, special friend (referred to as a daughter) Margaret Johnston; nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
One of 13 children, Robinson is also survived by a brother, Edward Neves, and four sisters: Mabel Hall, Verna Calderia and Carmel Holland of Sacramento; Beverly Updegraff of Clarksburg.
She also leaves many nieces and nephews and scores of loving friends.
Robinson was a member of the Fidelity Rebekah Lodge in Hollister, Blossom Hill OES of San Jose, Morgan Hill AARP, the Flower Lovers Club.
“Please don’t cry, I have lived a full life,” she was reported to have told her daughter Pat at the end.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at the San Martin Presbyterian Church, 13200 Lincoln Ave. San Martin. In lieu of flowers, it was Robinson’s wish to have donations made to the San Martin Presbyterian Church or the Morgan Hill Senior Center.
