Robin A. Pearson

Sunrise July 29, 1962 – Sunset July 15, 2021

The Legacy of a Purpose Driven Connector

Robin Ann Pearson was born on July 29, 1962, in Queens, NY, to Robert “Bob” Vincent Nero, Jr. and Barbara Ann Nero. The eldest of three children whose lives were shaped by a community of love on 235th Street in Laurelton, NY. Her early childhood was spent within the loving home of grandparents Edith O. Nero and Robert Vincent Nero, Sr. where Robin and her parents lived until a need for more space with the arrival of her loving sister, Monique O. Nero, when they moved to Brooklyn. Before the birth of their favorite brother, Robert Vincent Nero, III, the family moved to Laurelton.

As a child, Robin appeared on Sesame Street along with her sister Monique. Robin remembers several experiences, like the first time Oscar walked on TV and the introduction of Mr. Snuffleupagus, while Monique has a vague recollection.

Robin began her learning journey at St. Fortunata Grammar School in East NY, Brooklyn, meeting lifelong friends Delphine Wallace Brunson and Mike Witherspoon. She started sharpening her leadership skills at The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates with positive young women like Stephanie Stewart Riviere and Tracy Cole Brown. Deliberately choosing to study at Tufts University in MA because of the supportive environment of Capen House (The Africana Center), and they gave her the most money, Robin received her B.A. in Social Psychology in 1984. During these formative undergraduate years, roommates Kelli Powell and Perrin Reid became Robin’s sisters for life. With a career plan in mind, in 1986, Robin received her M.B.A. in Marketing from U.C.L.A. Anderson Graduate School of Management, where she met more kindred spirits in Yolanda “Lonnie” Williams Ali and Kenny Henry.

Robin excelled in various corporate positions during her career. Her love of sports and marketing drew her to Nestle USA in Los Angeles, CA, and Bristol-Myers Squibb in NYC. At the National Basketball Association (NBA) in NYC, lifetime connections developed with colleagues Denise Apelian Van Veen, Gary Way and Royce d. Wolfe, whose youngest child, Taylor, is Robin’s goddaughter as well as Erik McMillian. Robin’s storied career at the NBA allowed her to have a hand in the success of USA Basketball-Dream Team I, NBA Inside Stuff, McDonald’s Open, Japan Open, NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Jam Session, NBA Finals Program, Baby Ruth Shoot-Out, NBA Player mentoring program and other NBA community volunteer-related events. She continued in sports marketing with Inclyne, Inc. in Chicago and the Atlanta Commission for Olympic Properties with the Centennial Olympic Games. As a member of the 1998 NIKE World Masters Games’ (NWMG) in Portland, OR, she developed “Celebration City,” the Games’ first multipurpose, interactive zone. Back in Illinois, Robin worked with American Horizon and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and the WICT Foundation until multiple sclerosis (MS), an unpredictable disease she was diagnosed with almost a decade earlier, prevented Robin from continuing her career. Throughout her career, Robin enjoyed the work, yet her true passion was making connections with awesome people and linking others together.

On November 8, 1981, Robin was initiated into the Xi Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. while at Tufts University. She is a Golden Life Member of Delta and was a member of the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Alumnae Chapter. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Community Church International in Crystal Lake, IL as a choir member and volunteer with the golf tournament and announcement committees, where she was embraced by Pastor Rev. Michael J. and First Lady Rev. Karen Love. Robin was a member of the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), the Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP), and the National Black MBA Association, Chicago Chapter. Believing in a well-rounded educational experience, Robin was a member of Elgin Academy (EA) Board of Trustees, EA’s Development Committee and Elgin Academy Career Day speaker during Kaitlyn’s schoolyears.

On September 4, 1993, Robin and Bill were married. On March 27, 1997, their family grew with the arrival of their “sweet pea,” Kaitlyn C. Pearson. While residing in many states, Robin and Bill established lifelong relationships with Tammy & Wayne Jarrett, Lori & Carl Wyatt, Cheryl & Greg Norman, Stacy Evans, Lisa Smith, Sheri Dublin and many others, and especially with Kaitlyn’s godparents, Jim & Celeste Legg,

A lover of her people, music, food, and laughter, Robin embraced and inspired many with whom she connected. Although Robin treasured time with family and friends and continuously uplifted them with her amazing spirit, she lost the beautiful fight of the living when God called her into eternal rest on July 15, 2021. Welcoming Robin into heaven are her grandparents, Robert Vincent & Edith Octavia Nero, Sr. and Elwood Johnson & Pearl Mabel Thornton II. Robin is survived by her parents, Bob and Barbara; husband, Bill; daughter, Kaitlyn (fiancé Ryan Suwanski); siblings, Monique Octavia Nero and Robert Vincent Nero (Davina Harkey-Nero). She is remembered as a loving daughter, wife, big sister, mentor, teacher, career coach and connector. Our Robin, Rob, Pudd, Favorite Sissy, wife, Mama, Cuz and friend was an angel who touched many on Earth.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in honor of Robin Ann Nero Pearson to The Gerald R. Gill Fund. Prof. Gill was Robin’s favorite and a huge part of why she loved Tufts. If you like to donate electronically, visit tuftsgiving.org, select the school of Arts, Sciences & Engineering, select “other” as the area and type “Gerald R. Gill Fund” in the “other” field. Or mail to Tufts University, Professor Gerald R. Gill Memorial Scholarship Fund, 419 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155.

Family and friends will begin gathering at 11 a.m. CDT on Saturday, July 24, at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake, IL. Please remember to wear your face mask. Services will begin at 11:30 a.m. CDT at the funeral home. The Livestream will begin at Noon CDT on the Querhammer & Flagg Facebook page.