Jim was born November 24, 1931, to loving parents Philp and Evelyn (Maxwell) Robinson. He enjoyed his first few years of life with Skippy his Terrier on Hollis Ave in Braintree where his grandparents lived close by. The family, now including sister Elizabeth, moved to Clapp Rd Scituate during the Great Depression where Jim attended the local schools and had many adventures exploring the woods, creeks and streams of the West End and North Scituate as a boy and young teen. He loved cars and trains from a young age and was active in his Boy Scout Troop for many years.
When he was eighteen, he met the love of his life, Beverly Short. They married in 1955 and set up house on Blanchard Rd where they made great memories and welcomed the arrival of Susan and Peter. In the early seventies, the now family of five with the arrival of Beverly, moved to Branch St, the ultimate fixer. He and Beverly set about turning it into a warm & loving home for family and friends. Many memories were made at the house on Branch St, around a Sunday roast dinner, a fierce game of cribbage and the fireplace during the winter or the grill in the yard during warmer months, always with music specially curated by Jim. He had a special bond with his brother-in-law Don who was more of a brother than brother-in-law.
Jim was in the Navy Reserves stationed at the Armory in Hingham and did a tour on a supply ship during the Korean War. He worked for a plumbing company, but after surgery on both knees, he found his calling as an electrical engineer for radio broadcasting, and he was a proud brother of IBEW 103. He worked for the “it” radio station in the 60’s and 70’s, WRKO, when AM radio ruled. He knew all the DJ’s and was best man when one married.
Jim enjoyed his “HAM shack” with his first transmitter built from a Heath Kit. He was part of his first HAM group in the late 50’s & 60’s, they called themselves the “The Dim Light Boys”. When he and Beverly retired to Cape Cod 1997, and bought their charming rancher, he was part of another HAM group that had coffee every morning for many, many years. Jim had an impressive model train set up and built a Model T truck from not much more than a frame, machining and fabricating some of the parts himself. He would take his grandkids for ice cream in the Model T after it was completed, that’s going in style!
Jim could fix or fabricate just about anything, mechanical, automotive, or woodwork. Never a hack job, always done with finesse and style. If an outside repair was needed, you knew it was serious if it was beyond Jim’s vast and varied skill set. His can-do mind-set ensured his family was always well taken care of. Jim was an industrious, loving man who never wanted to stop learning new things to better the life of his family.
As an avid reader and stamp collector, it was difficult for Jim to lose his eyesight later in life, but he still enjoyed Patriots games, Jeopardy and his Waylon Jennings and Highway Men live concert DVDs, or just listening to the music channels with his varied music taste.
Jim was predeceased by his beloved wife of 59 years Beverly Short Robinson. He is survived by his sister Elizabeth Ireland of Chandler, Arizona, children Susan Nurse (Len) of Port Charlotte FL, Peter Robinson (Carolyn Dailey) of Duxbury, Beverly Giacobbe (Peter) of Weymouth, Grandchildren Elizabeth Robinson (Jeremy Freitas) of Taunton, James Robinson of Wareham, Adam Nurse (Lorene) Roxbury, Alexis Nurse (Evan)of Bellingham, Christopher Giacobbe of Weymouth & Isabella Giacobbe of Weymouth.
A Memorial Gathering will be held from 4-8 PM on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Road, Scituate, MA 02066.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim's memory can be made to the Jimmy Fund at https://www.jimmyfund.org/ways-to-give/
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