Marilyn Robinson, 93, of Aventura, Fla., died Nov. 5, 2023.
Marilyn was born in Toledo, Ohio. At an early age, she was encouraged to enroll in art classes at the Toledo Museum of Art to enhance her natural artistic abilities. There she was exposed to classical art. She graduated from Scott High School, class of 1948, majoring in art. Upon graduation, she worked in the art department of a local paper company.
She married and devoted her attention and talents to their four children. During this period, she also led adult Great Books groups, advancing critical, reflective thinking and social and civic engagement of people of all ages.
When her youngest child entered school, Marilyn entered college at Butler University, taking 10 years to earn a B.A. at Wayne State University in Detroit. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and majored in English literature and French. She then taught high school English for several years at Ferndale High School and during the summers worked for the Neighborhood Youth Corps.
At that time in her life, art was her avocation. She took a class here and there at the Bloomfield Art Center and from private teachers, where she met and later married Marvin Robinson. Together they moved to Florida and traveled extensively throughout the world.
In Florida, she returned to her art. She attended classes at Broward Community College, Florida Atlantic University and the Broward Art Guild. There were also seminars with Miles Batt, Paul Jenkins, Winifred Godfrey and Jeanne Dobie. For 22 years, she was a docent at the now named NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, where she shared her love of art and developed treasured friendships with other docents and the museum’s curator.
Marilyn was a prolific painter and often entered her paintings in juried sidewalk shows. Her paintings are primarily concerned with women and the female condition. The acrylic series called A Woman’s Place considers the options, dilemmas and fears of the women in today’s changing society. Her flowers (oils) reflect femininity, strength and growth.
After her husband died, Marilyn became active in various women’s organizations: American Association of University Women, Women’s Consortium, the League of Women Voters, OWL (Older Women’s League); in the latter, she later served as national president.
She created a women’s investment group, led financial and health seminars; lobbied Florida’s legislature to eliminate the state’s financial discrimination against women and fought for preventive women’s health care. In 2004, as part of “Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility,” she was inducted into the Broward County Women’s Hall of Fame for “her significant contribution to society and to the progress and freedom of women.”
Ten years later, in 2014, Marilyn chose to move into the Vi at Aventura and began a new chapter in her life, becoming a part of a community that felt like family. It did not take long before she joined and later chaired the Welcoming Committee, became a member of the Viva Girls’ Cheerleading Squad and joined the resident maestro’s choir.
Her family, community and Jewish values were paramount to her. Throughout her life, Marilyn was an educator, an advocate and an artist whose paintings depicted the growth and strength of women. Marilyn left treasured memories to those who loved her.
Marilyn was the beloved wife of the late Marvin Robinson; cherished mother of Barbara Smilack Buxton (Arthur Flink), Steven A. Smilack (Barbara Morse Perry Smilack), Joel R. Smilack (Jacqueline Smilack), and the late Carl Jeffrey Smilack; loving grandmother of Laurie Flink, Davida E. Buxton (Adam Levy), Seth Alexander (Ami Alexander), Andrea Smilack, Samantha Smilack Contino, Carl Jeffrey Smilack, and the late Frank Morse Perry; treasured great-grandmother of Norah Levy, Alan Levy, Aaron Levy, Kennedy Alexander, Emilia Alexander, Preston Smilack, James Green, Cooper Contino, Zelma Contino and Isabelle Smilack; dear sister of the late Beverly Solitt; adored daughter of the late Martin Miller and the late Lena Teman Miller. Marilyn is also survived by her numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Magen David Adom, 3175 Commercial Ave., Suite 101, Northbrook, IL 60062; or American Association of University Women, 1310 L St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington , DC 20005, my.aauw.org/donation-product-detail; or to a charity supporting breast cancer research. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
