Harry A Robinson

Harry Albert Robinson was born at a mere six and a half months, a “remarkably well developed infant who breathed spontaneously with a cry like a kitten’s mew, although he was just large enough to fit comfortably in the palm of the hand”, on March 27th, 1942, to Robert Benjamin Robinson and Sadie Turpin Robinson.

As a life-long Montclairian, Harry grew up on Pleasant Way, going through the Montclair Public School System. He graduated from Montclair High School, as class of 1960, where he enjoyed playing baseball. While attending Rutgers College, Harry met Denise, whom he later married on May 11, 1968, and stayed married until his untimely death. After graduating from Rutgers College in 1965, Harry earned his Juris Doctor in 1976, from Seton Hall Law School, while attending night school and still working full time day jobs. As Harry was attending night school to earn his JD, he and his wife, Denise, gave birth to a son, Adam, in 1975. Two years later, they followed up with a daughter, Beth, in 1977.

Harry always talked about working at an early age at the Old Road Coffee House. After graduating high school and Rutgers College, he became THE first Black Sportswriter and later the Scholastic Sports Editor for The Newark Evening News, 1963-1968. He was also a Staff Sergeant of the National Guard, from 1965-1971. In 1968, Harry became an Account Executive at Harshe, Rotman, and Druck in New York City. After that, he was hired as the Senior Vice President of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ), also in New York City.

When Harry left NCCJ, he became the public relations representative for the Newark Housing Authority, from which he retired. But through all these years, since 1976, Harry was ALWAYS the statistician for New York Knicks games, at Madison Square Garden, even traveling to local states to cover games. He was also known to sit in on National Collegiate Athletic Association games (NCAA).

Harry enjoyed hanging out with friends, at different events and bars, especially reuniting with his classmates of the Class of 1960, of Montclair High School. Like his brother, Tom, he loved cars, especially his 1964 Buick Wildcat, and like his brother, Mervyn, he liked bars. Harry was an avid traveler, always making every stranger a friend, and a wanna-be golfer. He owned any room that he entered, and spoke to everyone from paupers to presidents. He knew many celebrities and used his contacts in his multiple careers, in public relations.

Harry A. Robinson was predeceased by his parents, Robert Benjamin and Sadie, and his brothers/best friends: Tom and Mervyn. He is survived by his wife Denise, children: Beth (Chris) and Adam (Kimba), grandson, Jaiden, granddaughter, Olivia, nephews/adopted sons: Tom Robinson and Neal Robinson.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harry A Robinson, please visit our floral store.