Peter Denny Robinson

(1950-2016)

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Peter Denny Robinson, M.A. (Cantab.), on 19 April 2016. He joins in death his daughter Michelle Viviane (12 June 1975 – 27 Mai 1977).

He leaves in mourning his partner, Wen Qi Feng, his 6 surviving children, Merlin (Nisa Grattage), Liam (Emmanuelle Larose), Leif (Amanada Melillo), Angus (Lydia Pham), Brigitte (David Power), and Francesca (Pascal Ondedieu), his 10 grandchildren Leif Daniel, Nahella, Owyn, Alexandria, Griffin, Éléonore and Thor Robinson; Leah and Jack Kennedy; and Leila Ondedieu.

He also leaves in mourning his ex-wife Michelle Tisseyre, mother of his seven children; his mother, Alice Denny; his sisters Star Capper and Kersti Winny; his brother Mark Robinson; his brothers-in-law Charles Tisseyre and Daniel Winny; his sister-in-law Claire Robinson; his many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, his cousins Denny Scharf, Josephine Miller, Janet McMillan, Anne McMillan and Angela Kalmus, his army of friends and the many hundreds of young and not-so-young people who were his students throughout his long and storied teaching career.

Son of Alice Denny and of the renowned historian Ronald E. Robinson, D.F.C., C.B.E., (author of Africa and the Victorians and until his death in 1999, Beit Professor of the History of the British Commonwealth, Oxford University), Peter Denny Robinson was born in Washington, D.C., on March 14, 1950, and grew up in Cambridge, United Kingdom, where he attended the Perse School for Boys until his graduation. He then studied History, as an undergraduate at the University of Manchester and McGill University, and pursued his post-graduate studies at the University of Cambridge, before dedicating his life to teaching. Though he referred to himself as a humble schoolmaster, his charisma and creativity made him a uniquely gifted educator, universally loved by his students and widely appreciated by his colleagues. After completing his education, he taught at the Hitchin Grammar School, Hitchin, U.K., for 2 years before emigrating to Canada in 1976. He taught History at St. Andrews College, Aurora, Ontario, from 1977 to 1995, when he moved to Montreal. Thereafter he taught Adult Education at the Pearson Adult Education and Career Center until his death.

Peter Robinson was a gifted sportsman, who as a young man represented Cambridgeshire Schools’ at cricket and field-hockey. He also played football (soccer), rugby and tennis, and later coached 1st team soccer and cricket at St. Andrews College. He was a baseball fan (he loved the Blue Jays) and a hockey fan, supporting the Habs and the Leafs depending on where he was living at the time.

A private commemoration will be held on April, 30th 2016 at 3 PM, after which, according to his wishes, his ashes will be taken back to England by his children.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Foundation of each person’s choosing.