Eugene Arthur Robinson Sr. was born September 5, 1930, to the late Ruby and Archie Robinson in Hanover County, Virginia. He was the third born of six children - he is being the only son.

 

Eugene was affectionately known by his family and friends as “Sonny” or “Gene.”  At a young age, he became a member of and was baptized at the First Union Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.  He attended the Washington Park Elementary School and Maggie Walker High School in Richmond, VA and was well-liked by all his peers

 

In 1949, while standing at a bus stop, a beautiful young woman by the name of Mary Edley caught his eye.  He knew right then and there that she was to be the love of his life.  Time passed by and in 1950, Mary decided to move North to Riverhead, NY.    Gene knew that he could not let Mary get away, so he pursued her, and they were married on August 19, 1950.  To this union was born eight children.

 

Upon arriving in Riverhead, Gene joined the First Baptist Church on Raynor Avenue. Later, he joined the Men's Choir at the First Baptist Church on Northville Turnpike. After leaving First Baptist, he and ex-choir members formed the Voices unto Victory Choir. They later formed the Saint Paul Community Church where he became a Deacon. His final church home became the Galilee Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Dr. Roy L. Pennon, Sr. where he became Deacon Eugene Robinson, Chairman of the Deacon’s Board. At the age of 81, he attended and graduated from the Mason Kelly Washington Religious Training Institute to become a Certified Evangelist.

 

Gene was also a Prince Hall Mason of Tyre Lodge #91. He excelled to 32 Degree and became an ABU BEKR Shriner.

 

He became a member of the Getaway Travel Club where he and Mary enjoyed traveling to several vacation locations. He loved fishing, collecting "antiques", working with his hands, building things, and working on cars. He also enjoyed keeping up with the news - watching CNN for hours on end.  However, Gene’s most favorite past time was spending time with his family and friends.

 

Gene started his working career at the L.I. Produce Fertilizer Plant in Riverhead and later acquired a better job at Vail Motors. As his family grew, he eventually left Vail motors and became a union Construction Labor until his retirement at the age of 63. However, on his way home from retiring, he noticed Splish Splash Water Park in Calverton, NY was under construction. He stopped by just to check it out and ended up working there for the next 20 years - His retirement only lasted for one weekend. After retiring from Splish Splash (his second attempt at retiring), he decided to use his spare time working at the Galilee Church Food Pantry, distributing food to the needy. "Idle time is wasted time, so why not help someone else if at all possible" was his motto.

 

Eugene was predeceased by three sisters - Gertrude, Mae, and Ollie Bell; one daughter:  Barbara Ann; two sons: John Lee and Gerald Raymond and one granddaughter - LaKeisha EsShun Brown but memories of him will always be cherished by his loving wife of seventy-one years, Mary (Edley) Robinson; three sons - Everett C. (Shirley), Eugene A. Jr., (Caulie), Doug Love (Sherry); five daughters: Mary (Sister) Brown, Robin D. Brown (Ralph), Yvette M. Bright, Lisa Goree (Chris) and Janet Terry; fourteen grandchildren;  twenty-one great grandchildren; two aunts: Vernel Gresham of Richmond, VA, Evelyn Aiken of Morristown, NJ; two sisters: Gladys Johnson and Ethel Lee Houston; one step sister: Evelyn Bell, all of Richmond, VA; a special cousin: Mary Ann Watson of Richmond, VA and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.