Obituary: Kenneth L. Robinson, Major General, USMC Ret.

SWAMPSCOTT, MA - There were military helicopters flying over the North Shore on Saturday in honor of Major General Kenneth L. Robinson, USMC, who was laid to rest at Swampscott Cemetery.

Major General K.L. Robinson Jr., USMC (Ret.) passed away suddenly, but peacefully, on Sunday, January 18. He is grieved by family and friends from the many circles in which he lived and served during his 87 years. Returning to the community that he claimed as home, he will be laid rest among several generations of family who are buried in the Swampscott, MA cemetery.

Ken Robinson was born on Feb 14, 1929 in Lynn, MA to Frances R. (Leighton) Robinson and Kenneth L. Robinson. He grew up in Swampscott surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. Industrious from an early age, Ken served as an altar boy and worked as a soda jerk at Eaton’s drug store while attending St. Mary’s High School. He proudly earned his Eagle Scout designation, which hangs in his office to this day. He funded his education by joining the Marine Corps reserves, graduating from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1950. He attended Basic Officer School and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, USMC in June of that year.

Ken married his high school sweetheart, Marie Louise Cormier, also of Lynn, and they raised a family of five children while following his career. Together, they adventured through tours of duty in Arlington, VA, Camp Lejeune, NC, Vallejo, CA, San Diego, CA, and Okinawa, Japan. They weathered several remote tours of duty, including combat stints in Korea and Vietnam, where he was awarded the Legion of Merit with combat “V” for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services “ during that duty. While stationed in Northern Virginia, Ken served at Headquarters Marine Corps, as well as at the Pentagon, providing daily briefings and support to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He attended the Naval War College and subsequently earned his MS degree in Business Administration from George Washington University. Over the course of 33 years in the Corps, he held various commands, including the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa and, ultimately, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where he served as Commanding General until his retirement in 1983. Ken’s avocational involvement with board of Navy Federal Credit Union laid the groundwork for what would become his second career.

After retiring from military duty, Ken and Marie returned to Northern Virginia and settled in the neighborhood where they had retained a home and several of their children lived. He became the President/CEO of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) where he worked with the White House and numerous committees of Congress in service of “doing well by doing good” within the financial community. During his 17-year tenure, NAFCU contributed significantly to legislation that secured the charter of Credit Unions. Ken was a consultant to the Treasury under Alan Greenspan and was named one of the country’s 40 Most Influential Financial Leaders, yet retained a spirit of humility, service and good humor within that arena.

Lifelong, Ken was active in the Catholic church, and after retiring from NAFCU in 2000 he took on various tasks in support of the financial health of Saint Agnes Parish in Arlington, Virginia and, subsequently, the local diocese. He helped Marines leaving active duty to network and become acclimated to civilian life and work, and served as a coordinator of military funerals and burials in Northern Virginia and Washington DC. He remained connected to friends from the USMC, NAFCU and the broader community, as well as traveling each year back to New England to visit family and friends. Ken was widowed in 2009.

On a subsequent visit to Swampscott, Ken reconnected with high school friends, including Sally Knowlton Bryant. Originally from Belmont, Sally’s family had summered at the beach in Swampscott while growing up. She and Ken shared a circle of friends, and both maintained ties to New England. They married in 2010 and Ken moved to Waco, where Sally had lived while raising three children. Ken quickly became immersed in the community and enjoyed time with Sally’s family for the five years they shared there. He served as the President of the Heart of Texas Chapter Military Officers Association (MOAA) in 2014 and, at the time of his death, was serving as President of the Kiwanaws Club of Waco Seniors.

Ken was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Marie, and grandson, Jason. He is survived by his wife, Sally Bryant Robinson, his five children Ed Robinson, Elaine Bickel, Ruth Cook, Danae Hamlin and Gordon Robinson, and their respective spouses, children and grandchildren, as well as Sally’s children, Leslie Chechen, Lisa Vickers and Chip Bryant, and their children and grandchildren. Ken was known for his good nature, involvement and service. He’ll be missed by many who were impacted by his leadership, kindness and generosity, and by a large and loving family. - See more at: http://www.solimine.com/obituary/Kenneth-L.-Robinson-Major-General-USMC-Ret./Waco-TX/1583552#sthash.H4UtIQxL.dpuf

A funeral ceremony was held at Sacred Heart Church in Lynn on Saturday.