Dirk Killian Robinson

Dirk Killian Robinson, beloved brother, nephew and Uncle, died on January 6, 2024 after a protracted neurological illness. He died in his Avondale home under hospice care. He was 69. He was son of Josephine Raskob & Charles Apel Robinson.

Dirk was a lifelong outdoorsman who embraced nature and took great joy in camping, fishing, and hiking. He also was a fervent bird watcher recording sightings from Connecticut to Baltimore, from Hawk Mountain to all along the Mid-Atlantic coast. There wasn’t a bird he didn’t recognize; and when he spotted a bird for the first time he added it his “Lifebird” list of over 200 new species sightings.

Dirk served four years in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War era. He was stationed around the world, ready to be deployed whenever and wherever needed. After graduating from Penn State with an Environmental Science Degree, Dirk worked for the Delaware Nature Society. He also worked as a field inspector for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and National Vulcanized Fiber.

Among his community and civic services, Dirk built and maintained nature trails for the Friends of the New Garden Township Trials. For sixteen years he also served on the Avondale Borough Election Board operating the voting machine tabulating ballots for local, state and national elections.

After attending concerts of flautist James Galway and Jethro Tull as a teenager, Dirk acquired a love of many genres of music, especially rock and reggae. He spent many an evening following this passion attending over 1,500 concerts of widely known musicians. If you named a musician, a band, or singer Dirk would quickly recall that event. He collected all the ticket stubs to prove it!

Dirk is survived by a loving family of aunts, uncles, siblings, nieces and nephews. His family and friends will miss his kind disposition, radiant smile and adventurous spirit.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary https://www.hawkmountain.org or Brandywine River Valley Hospice https://lhcgroup.com/locations/brandywine-river-valley-hospice/.

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Funeral Services

Interment will be held privately. A date will be set for this spring to celebrate his life.

Condolences

Mary Ball Morton lit a candle

01/18/2024 10:45 am

Laurie Goodrich writes,

So sorry to learn of Dirk's passing. We will miss his enthusiasm, especially for golden eagles, at Hawk Mountain in the fall.

01/18/2024 10:54 am

Sue Hahn lit a candle and writes,

I am very saddened by Dirk’s passing. I considered him a friend and enjoyed the time we spent at Hawk Mountain. We talked about his “chasings” and the many concerts he attended. I will miss him terribly-he made Hawk Mountain a fun place to be. Rest in peace my friend

01/18/2024 11:16 am

Scott Morrison lit a candle and writes,

Your memory was recalled this past season when we had a juvenile golden eagle pass the lookout and how much you would have enjoyed the good view. Hope you are soaring high with them on a NW wind.

01/18/2024 11:35 am

Terry Glenn lit a candle and writes,

Dirk was a special person. You could always count on a smile, a kind word and a keen interest in whatever you were doing. He will be missed.

01/18/2024 01:16 pm

John Mercer lit a candle and writes,

I sat next to Dirk many days up at Hawk Mountain. When he showed up, you knew you were probably in for a good show of eagles. He could spot them way off and often you would here something like "here comes a big bird over number two, could be interesting" I'll never forget his stories of concerts he had gone to or how he often adjusted the rocks to make them "more comfortable." He will be missed.

01/18/2024 05:48 pm

Joe writes,

I chased a few birds with Dirk. 1000 acre swamp. Condolences to his family. Joe

01/19/2024 12:30 am

Melinda L Mcneil lit a candle and writes,

i enjoy working with him at the voting polls he will be missed

01/19/2024 11:12 am

Ted Miller writes,

I met Dirk when I was in kindergarten, and we were lucky enough to have great adventure almost everywhere we went throughout our lifetimes. He made the pilgrimage out to Tucson AZ and outer environs several times to take in the prolific bird life. He collected quite a number of “lifers” out here and one, the Elegant Trogon, put on such a mating display that it melted his binoculars! Carry on with the wonder of it all, Dirk, love you you, my brother

01/19/2024 12:59 pm

Debbie Miller Filipi lit a candle and writes,

Dear Dirk, I have many happy memories of you! I first met you when you moved from Germany to the United States. You were such a sweetheart from then through the rest of your life! Dirk, you were friends of my brothers. That gave you a special relationship with the Miller family. Thank you for it. Love, Debbie Miller Filipi

01/19/2024 04:06 pm

Patsy Vanderkraats lit a candle and writes,

To all of Dirk`s Family, I am so sorry to hear of Dirk`s passing. I have served on the Election Board with Dirk for many years. It will not be the same without him. We had so much fun with him. I would tease him and he was always ready to laugh and tease me right back. I am happy to have had him for a friend. Sincerely, Patsy Vanderkraats

01/19/2024 11:25 pm

Lucinda Stude writes,

Every time I look out my window at the birds I think of Dirk, and always will. His love of birds and music was infectious and his enthusiasm never waned. Dirkie, you have been such a dear friend for the decades that I have known you, always smiling and willing to help in any way that you can. Now that you have your own wings, you can fly over Hawk Mountain, smiling over all of us. I will miss you, but will see you again soon. My sincere condolences and thanks to the family.

01/20/2024 12:02 pm

Peter wulfhorst lit a candle and writes,

I first met dirk in September 1979 at penn state. We were both taking wildlife 309. I introduced to birdwatching and our birding adventures began. After graduating from penn state we did a 2 week birding trip to Florida in January 1982. We traveled to California in 1991 and Arizona & Utah in 1992 for 2 week vacations visiting grand canyon, zion, bryce, arches & birding in southern arizona. In 1993 we traveled for 3 weeks to Olympic national park, yellowstone. Teton, crater lake & other places throughout the northwest. In 1995 we birders in glacier & banff/jasper in Canada. Dirk was my best man at my wedding in 1997. He would visit me in the Pocono's to look for warblers each spring including the golden-winged warbler. We went to chincoteague several weekends after Thanksgiving. We also attended a few concerts at various venues. I still remember seeing The Band with him in Wilmington. I cherish all the birding trips we were on together over the years. I will miss your friendship. Love you a lot.

01/21/2024 09:09 pm

Jeff lit a candle and writes,

I sat next to Dirk many times at the north lookout at Hawk Mountain. It was great to see Dirk's excitement when he would say "I see patches!", signifying a juvenile Golden Eagle was on the way. It was fun talking about recent bird sightings and hearing about the recent concerts that Dirk had been to. Many times I would walk back down to the parking lot with Dirk at the end of the day, and we would talk about the weather forecast as to when the next good NW winds would be. There were times that I would tell Dirk about rare birds that were sighted near where I lived. I will miss you, Dirk, my friend.

01/22/2024 06:02 pm

Ian writes,

Dirk was a very pleasant happy guy who always made me smile. I shared several bird walks with him and his love and enthusiasm for birds and wildlife in general was infectious. He was always happy to help people new to birding and was quite the character with his funny stories. I will miss him and his laugh.

02/07/2024 09:26 pm

Armas Hill lit a candle and writes,

So sorry to learn of Dirk's passing. I saw him last in February 2023 at Nottingham Park, Chester County PA when we were enjoying a flock of Red Crossbills. There, and so many other times, he pointed out to me where the birds were, making sure I saw them well. The same, during previous years, with a Snowy Owl at Port Mahon DE, a Razorbill along the Delaware seacoast, a Kirtland's Warbler in a small park in Baltimore MD. Just a few such times and places - too many to mention. He would routinely share sightings with me in his scope and always made sure I'd get on whatever bird it would be. I didn't know that he had been a Marine in Vietnam. But I did know that he was a kind and sharing birder. And that community was better for his being a part of it.

03/04/2024 02:10 pm

Sandra Keller lit a candle and writes,

I was so sorry to hear of Dirk’s passing. I enjoyed birding with him - chasing stuff! And hearing about the latest concert he attended! I will truly miss him and remember him with a smile.

05/18/2024 06:11 pm

Karen Glenn lit a candle and writes,

Dirk always brought fun, stories and lively conversation sitting around Mother's table. Dirk's handsome face made us all smile wondering what adventures we would soon learn about. If we could all live life with such wonder and passion. Bless you!

06/20/2024 04:20 pm

Teri Dignazio lit a candle and writes,

I just learned from Suzanne Huf, that Dirk is gone. She said his memorial service was a lovely tribute to all that was Dirk. I originally, met him through Mark & Suzanne Huf. We spent many competitive hours on our local tennis court. He enjoyed the game! It was great to listen to his concert tales. He was always on his way to "the next one". Dirk truly loved birds and was enthusiastic about his Hawk Mountain adventures. I didn't realize he was as serious about birds sighting as he was about concert attendance. I am holding his family in the light and hoping birds and music surround him always. He was a renaissance man................

06/28/2024 02:17 pm

Duffy French writes,

Knew him in high school, not well, but he drove a muscle car and had a rock n roll vibe. Plus, he went with one of the prettiest girls in school. But you know they rarely last. Dang, sweet sorrow when they pass early. RIP Dirk 🫡

08/10/2024 06:18 pm

Dirk Robinson writes,

Uncle Dirk, although our time spent together was brief, the quality of it was always top shelf. Kind of ironic that we're both named Dirk Robinson and that we were both adopted into the Raskob family. I look forward to our next conversation together.

09/11/2024 11:33 pm

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