Kenneth G. Robinson

He was born September 10, 1953 in Scranton, son of the late Kenneth Robinson and Josephine Prill

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Katherine A. (Murin) Robinson, son Jonathan Robinson (Courtney Mills), daughter Jessica Robinson (Shannon Bobb) brothers Gary and Jeffrey Robinson, sisters Cindy Robinson Suchanek and Amy Robinson Silveria, stepmother Barbara Robinson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved granddaughter, Chloe.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 27, 2019 from 5PM to 8 PM at the Neill Funeral Home, Camp Hill.

Memorial service will be at 11:00 Thursday, February 28, 2019, with visitation one hour prior to service at Neill Funeral Home, Camp Hill.

Family and friends, as well as the professional communications world are mourning the loss of veteran PR expert Ken Robinson. Ken, who was also an accomplished musician, died very unexpectedly this past week.

Many moons ago, Ken Robinson took a step away from his first career stop (as an AM radio DJ for WBAX in Wilkes-Barre) to become the first full-time press secretary for the Pennsylvania Bureau (later Department) of Corrections. Preparing for and dealing with crises soon became a requirement, eventually leading to his role as chief spokesman during the 1989 Camp Hill prison riot.

Up until his death, he was a senior strategist/operations manager at Quantum Communications. Prior to joining Quantum, his Robinson Group Strategic Communications provided a range of public relations services that included media relations training and focus group facilitation and crisis communications strategic planning. In 2005, the RAND Corporation cited a risk communications assessment project his firm conducted for the Pennsylvania Department of Health as one of 12 “exemplary practices in public health preparedness” in the nation.

Before becoming an agency-based consultant, Ken was communications vice president for the Pennsylvania Medical Society, where he led a complete reorganization of the statewide association’s communication division. During that time, he served for two years on the American Medical Association’s Communications Advisory Board.

In addition to serving on the board of the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society, Ken is a past president of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and former board member of PRSA’s Mid-Atlantic District. He was accredited in public relations (APR) by PRSA.

It should not be left out that Ken was an amazing musical theatre actor. One of his many roles, his role in Man of La Mancha involved him mastering a real bullwhip on stage. This was one of HCT's (now Theatre Harrisburg) major shows. Legend has it, he wielded it with such force that he snapped the end off of the whip.

As a high school student, Ken saved to buy his first guitar, and quickly taught himself how to play it. His band “Total Chaos” truly lived up to their name when they showed up to play at his WWII veteran father’s social gathering and was expected to play traditional Stars and Stripes, that inevitably turned into a job-dismissing electric rendition of Jimi Hendrix’ Star Spangled Banner.

From the early 1970’s Ken entertained numerous dive bar patrons with his own renditions of popular songs from that era and before, that he still played up to present day, albeit sometimes quite forgetfully. In the mid 1990’s, he was the front man of Curbstone and The Rock Hard Horns. A 9 piece band featuring a full brass section playing music from bands like Tower of Power and Chicago. Ken smiled all the way through his renditions of 'Vehicle' by Jim Peterik. Locally, over the last 2 decades Ken joined duos and trios alike to continue the dive bar tour that gave him his musical start. He would often say how out of place he felt playing with much more “accomplished” musicians, but maybe never got to realize the feeling was always mutual.

Of all the local and national musicians that he ever had the privilege to sit in with, nothing ever made him happier than sharing the stage with his son, Jon. The two of them frequently played in many local bars and clubs, entertaining the patrons with their talent as well as their quick-witted banter and comradery. Their smiles and laughter were contagious no matter what the venue and were a local favorite at many of them.

Ken met his wife Kathie in 1976 while dancing at local night spot. After some conversation, they realized they had been conversing for years, over the phone, in relation to their respective jobs for the State. Due to that fateful meeting, their relationship developed into a loving 35-year marriage. Their life together included many adventures, from camping all over the east coast, to their yearly trip Disney World in Florida. One trip included driving a pop-up camper through New York City, all the way to Canada. However, their greatest adventure together was raising their two children, along with the recent addition of the newest love of his life, his granddaughter Chloe

As a young parent, Ken would take his daughter Jessica to horseback riding lessons on Saturday mornings. This was truly one of his favorite past times, and was always capped off with a stop at one of their favorite diners. More recently, he and Jessi shared time every Sunday morning to cook breakfast together, passing on his passion for cooking as well as his passion for life.

Ken was able to spend most of his final hours babysitting his granddaughter Chloe, spending the time with her that he truly loved, before taking his final trip to be at home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Ken’s honor to the Pinnacle Health Foundation, NICU fund, mailed to PO Box 8700, Harrisburg, PA 17105 or online at UPMCpinnacle.com/GivingBack.

His beloved Chloe spent several months with the amazing and talented individuals in the NICU to ensure she would grow up strong like her “Old Grandad”.