GERTRUDE (TRUDY) LEAH ROBINSON (NÉE NEEDLEMAN)

1932-2023

PHOTOS AND FACES, FRIENDS AND FACTS AND KITTY CATS—PEOPLE AND PLACES AND THE WORLD OF GERTRUDE (TRUDY) LEAH ROBINSON (NÉE NEEDLEMAN), 1932-2023

Her face often revealed a quizzical expression, captured in the myriad photographs of her snapped over the decades that now decorate heirloom albums or rest framed on tables and walls of family members who loved her and still love her and miss her and will forever miss her. One’s gaze automatically gravitates toward these photos; they glow from scrapbook pages and frames in cozy living rooms. “Beautiful” is an adjective often uttered to describe her girlish look of amazement, those soft eyes always curious and somewhat askew, the sweet smile of sincere acceptance of everyone and everything, of life and all its twists and turns, its sorrows and its joys.

Trudy Leah Robinson’s deepest and most tragic sorrow no doubt involved the passing of her cherished husband, Arnold (Arnie), in 2005. Cliché as it sounds, Trudy and Arnie remained in love throughout their long and happy marriage—50 years sharing their love of family, travel, museums, restaurants, Broadway shows, The New York Times, opera, ballet and cozying up by the fireplace with a glass of Chardonnay . Arnie, by the way, was a brilliant aeronautical engineer and successful entrepreneur; partner and longtime friend with Gilbert Devore, of Devore Aviation, Albuquerque Mew Mexico.

Trudy was also predeceased by her two brothers, Abe and Manny. Abe and Manny were many years older than Trudy and her baby sister, Bernice. As teenagers, the boys took up photography as a hobby and—cameras in tow—tracked their kid sisters around the Philadelphia neighborhood where they all grew up, snapping pictures of these adorable girls all the while. Now these photos populate some of the family albums heretofore mentioned. Note: so alluring and charming was young Trudy’s visage that her portrait soon appeared on the package label for Bond Bread. Another aside: the two brothers, Abe and Manny—in addition to continually photographing the girls—soon were carting their sisters around during dates with their high school sweethearts—just before shoving off for World War II. All four siblings remained close throughout long lives; sister Bernice today continues to reside in Montclair, New Jersey, where she taught kindergarten to generations of children.

And what about friendships? While Trudy’s closeness with her beloved relatives—siblings, offspring, grandchildren, in-laws, et al.—often served as binding friendships, she also had important buddies during her lifetime. Trudy’s last and best friend, Leigh, happened along just after Arnie died. The two gals—Leigh and Trudy (both newly widowed)—attended a weekly grief support group facilitated by Rabbi Min at the Albuquerque JCC (Jewish Community Center). There they formed a lasting bond that carried along until Trudy’s passing at age 91—due to complications from Alzheimer’s. Leigh recalls her escapades with Trudy during happier moments in New Mexico: “Trudy would call me up at 5 PM as I was ready to sit down for dinner and ask if I wanted to run out to eat. I would drop everything to meet up with Trudy at some restaurant. We’d dine and talk. She was a brilliant conversationalist! Or sometimes she’d call at 7 PM and suggest we go out for coffee. We’d head to the Satellite Cafe. Trudy sipping a latte and I’d order my special tea. At 8:30, the restaurant lowered the price of baked goods and we would purchase something called the ‘ugly muffin’ at half-price. We’d split it and share it and talk and talk and talk. We talked about everything! At 10:30, the restaurant started closing up and the workers always had to shoo us out.”

The writer Jonathan Katz, who pens tales about his border collies and other canines, discusses in his books the concept of the “Lifetime Dog,” that special mutt that stands out above and beyond all the others any pet-owner ever loved. Well, in Trudy’s case, she had a “Lifetime CAT”; that cat—the last kitty in a long lineup of precious felines—was Bradley, a rescued street cat, shy and timid at first. But soon he would curl up in Trudy’s lap while she watched her favorite shows, or listened to her favorite radio programs. Bradley was her “Little Man”—there for Trudy as she lapsed deeper and deeper into the confusion of Alzheimer’s. Then darling Bradley developed cancer and one day he, too, was gone. For Trudy there remained no joy in reclining in that easy chair before the television, with no more Bradley curled on her lap to pet.

Another thing about Trudy and this is a fun fact: she harbored a fanatical crush on Freddie Mercury. She loved watching films where he sang and strutted in his skimpy outfits. Trudy was a big time aficionado of talk radio and thus her favorite Queen song was “Radio Ga Ga.” She kept a picture of Freddie Mercury propped on her bedroom dresser, along with a photo of Arnie.

What a pleasing personality she had!—Upbeat, compassionate, warm and welcoming. Eldest child Barry says he never remembered her getting angry. Can you imagine: raising three children in Queens, New York, during some of the most tempestuous events in American history (that is, the Sixties and Seventies) and never getting angry?

How Trudy met Arnie: He turned out to be the chauffeur for her during some jaunt to the Catskills. Was it love at first sight? Maybe. She says she was immediately attracted to this intelligent young gentleman because he was short and she also was short and this meant—if he became her boyfriend—she could say goodbye forever to the painful high heels she’d felt compelled to wear because of fashion dictates. On the return trip from the mountains, Trudy sat up front in the car, pressed close and cozy against the chauffeur.

She was lithe, flexible as a yoga teacher. Her hair sprouted out in all directions, untamed as Einstein’s and a silver-gray color coveted by glamorous ladies who spend hours in the beauty shop. In terms of conversation and her ability to relate to other humans: let’s just say she was right up there with Dale Carnegie. Yes—“beautiful “is the word often used to describe her—an accurate adjective indeed.

A private family gathering—a remembrance celebrating the life of a remarkable person, Gertrude (Trudy) Leah Robinson (née Needleman), is planned for August, 2023. Those wishing to offer tribute to Trudy’s legacy and memory please consider donating to The Oregon Humane Society, or to your own favorite animal charity.

Trudy is survived by her sister, Bernice Kreger (husband Barnett). Children; Barry Robinson (wife Nancy Ava Miller), Lisa McConnell (husband Tom) and Sandy Robinson (wife Toni). Grandchildren; Jacob (wife Alexis), Lucas (wife Emeline), Steven and Cora (husband Quincy). Great-Grandchildren; David (wife Gladys), Dylan, Simone, Luke and Jalen.

Trudy will be forever missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.