1952
It would be hard to find anyone in Jersey City who does not know Julian Robinson. When he received the Christopher Columbus Quincentennial Medal last fall, it was said that the recipients are "widely known and respected for their commitment to a better Hudson County." Unquestionably he has made a difference, but far beyond the borders of Hudson County. Julian's student career was interrupted by military service during the Korean conflict. He actually finished with the class of 1956. From the standpoint of a black student of the fifties (his uncle graduated in 1905!), the College was better the second time around. There were more black students and the unwritten dormitory and fraternity inhibitions were vanishing. He received a master's degree at New York University in 1959 and married Belmira. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Jersey City, the first Afro-American ever to try it. He was the first black municipal executive of Jersey City, first commissioner, first acting mayor of the Jersey Highway Authority (now in his 18th year), and first chair of the Democratic Committee. These days of numerous Afro-American municipal and political officials began, we can be proud to say, with people like Julian. He knows his Dartmouth uncle would be proud.
He is presently in his 23 rd year as vice president of student services at Jersey State College. He served on the Dartmouth Alumni Council in the late 1960s and he has been helpful in the efforts of the College to become truly bias-free. He sees a great void in this country. People don't know each other well enough to understand and appreciate. George Bush, whom Julian wishes well, has failed in this respect. Whether President Clinton can understand and appreciate remains to be seen.
In October Deerfield Academy gave BobBinswanger the 1992 Heritage Award, established to recognize Deerfield alumni for distinguished public service and professional achievement. "The most embarrassing moment of my life," he described it. He spoke at the ceremony about heritage: the privilege of having a Deerfield education is accompanied by responsibility. Graduates must give time, effort, and sensitivity to make American society better. Remembering his academic record (and many of ours too), he dedicated the speech to "C students." Bob was destined for the family real-estate business when he graduated from Dartmouth, but he changed to a career in education in 1955. After receiving a doctorate in education, he taught at Deerfield and then Harvard. He worked for the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the U.S. Department of Education, and as vice chancellor of the University of Maine. Then for ten challenging years he was headmaster of the Latin Academy in Boston. He worked very hard to facilitate integrated education while there and achieved the construction of a first-class building.
Bob's marriage of 33 years has produced three sons: one a senate aide to Ted Kennedy, one a radio talk-show host for a children's program on WBZ Boston called "Kid Company," and one a former teacher who worked as an advance-man for the Clinton campaign. Bob, a lifelong Republican, cannot understand where all the Democrats came from. Rather than retire, Bob accepted a position at Dartmouth College as a professor of education. He loves Hanover and is excited about returning to teaching. He looks forward to seeing more of his classmates.
10 Grove Street, Pittsford, NY 14534-1327
