Joyce Robinson
July 30, 1924-Nov. 5, 2023
Pleasanton, CA
Joyce A. Robinson, a long-time resident of Pleasanton, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at the age of 99.
Joyce was born in London, England on July 30, 1924, to Henry William Brewer and Emily Louisa Brewer. She was evacuated to Cornwall along with her younger sister Vera at the start of WWII, later returning to London where she lived and worked during the Blitz of 1940 and 1941.
She had a successful career as an Executive Secretary and taught typewriting and business skill classes at the Woolwich Polytechnic in London. After travelling in Europe during her twenties, her adventurous spirit led her to North America, where she worked her way across Canada for two years before coming to the United States and falling in love with San Francisco.
She immigrated to the United States in 1958 and met Al Robinson on a Sierra Club outing. They married in 1959 and in 1961, their first daughter was born, followed by a second daughter in 1964. Joyce and Al raised their children in various locations across the San Francisco Bay Area, moving to Pleasanton in 1977.
Joyce's gifts during this time were mostly channeled into homemaking, parenting, church, and community activities, as well as two years working as the neighborhood Avon lady. Joyce was active in Gideons International for over 30 years, volunteered in the health library at the Valley Care-Stanford Auxiliary for 25 years and worked alongside her husband as a poll worker for 20 years after Al retired, never missing an election.
Travel was Joyce's passion and she loved exploring new places and learning about different cultures. During retirement, in addition to regular camping trips, she and Al took eight cruises covering Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Mediterranean and the Far East. Joyce and Al were married just shy of 50 years when Al passed away in 2009.
Joyce is survived by her daughter Gillian Aufricht and son in law Phillip Aufricht of San Jose, daughter Jacqueline Robinson-Ramorino and son in law Richard Ramorino of San Francisco, and her two grandchildren, Julia, and Jack Aufricht. A celebration of life is planned for January 6, 2024 at 1:30pm at Valley Community Church, 4455 Del Valle Parkway, Pleasanton, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons International.
