Thomas Robinson OBITUARY
Thomas Arlen Robinson 1930 – 2011 Resident of Soquel Tom passed away peacefully on December 14, 2011 at the age of 81.
He was born on February 7, 1930, in Manila, Philippines, where his father was employed. He was the youngest of seven children, and even owned a pet monkey. He and his family were moved into an internment camp at the University of Santo Tomas during WWII, until he was the age of 15. He remembered glimpsing General Douglas MacArthur through the window of their compound prior to their release.
After the war, Tom’s mother moved the family to the United States, where he obtained his citizenship. After attending high school in San Francisco, he joined the Air Force. Based in Waverly, Iowa, he eventually met his fiancee, Marilyn. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant, and played on the air base softball team. After an honorable discharge, he and his wife drove out to California, where they started their family. Initially living for awhile in San Francisco where Tom’s family remained, they later moved to Santa Cruz County. He and his wife stayed in Scotts Valley for 10 years, where they raised their 3 children.
The family’s final move to the Soquel mountain area was in 1976. Tom worked as a Master Vacuum Tube Technician for Varian Associates in Palo Alto for 37 years, specializing in gyrotrons and klystrons. When he retired, he enjoyed his time helping take care of his grandchildren, gardening, and caring for his daughter’s horse, Chrissy. Tom soon left retirement to work part time as a private consultant. He was highly respected for his experience and knowledge in microwave vacuum tubes.
Tom will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, his quiet love for his family, and his passion for politics. He loved a good political debate, and was a well – known news and sports junkie. He would relay many stories of his life spent in camp as a youth. Tom had a short bucket list; but he achieved a couple of his dreams when he was in his 70’s. He loved the glider flight he took out of Truckee, then later flew on a B-17, the”Sentimental Journey”.
Tom is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marilyn; children, Jeffrey (Hawaii), Linda Taylor and husband Rocky (Los Gatos), Kevin and wife Carolina (Soquel). Grandchildren; Kyle, Dana and Kevin Robinson, Brandie (Taylor) Sanden and husband Tucker, Tawney and Toby Taylor, Sofia Robinson and Alessandra Avalos. Great- grandchildren, Stratton and Hudson Sanden. Tom is also survived by his sister, Jeanne Schreiber (Las Vegas), brother Harry Robinson (Walnut Creek) and many nieces, nephews, and their children.
Our family would like to give a special thanks to ComForCare of Santa Cruz and all the staff at Dominican Hospital for taking such great care of Tom. He will be missed, and will always be most affectionately remembered as “Grandad”.
No services are planned. The family will hold a private celebration of Tom’s life at a later date.
