Mary-Ann Robinson

Mary-Ann Robinson, 86, passed away at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA, on Thursday, July 17th, 2025. As in life, she was strong and fought hard until the very end.

Mary-Ann was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, on July 6, 1939, to the late Paul and Madaleine (Harris) Toy. She was the oldest of three children. She grew up spending time with her brother and sister at Wachaug Pond in Rhode Island. In the early years, the family camped in a tent, and later her parents acquired a small cottage. She loved the water, whether it was a pond, a local lake, or the ocean. Mary-Ann often reflected on the positive influences her aunts, uncles, and extended family had on her life as a child. As a teen, she spent summers in Maine as a nanny for a local family. She graduated from Cranston High School in 1956.

At just 17, she left Warwick to attend Keuka College in upstate New York, where she pursued her undergraduate degree. She loved her time at Keuka and formed many special, lifelong friendships. In February of 1957, while a student at Keuka, she agreed to a blind date with “Bobby” Robert Robinson, from Corning. That date marked the beginning of the life and love of Mary-Ann and Robbie.

Mary-Ann married Robbie in a simple ceremony in Pawtuxet, RI, on August 27th, 1960. They went on to have four children and lived in Albion, Michigan, Martinsburg, WV, and for two years in São Paulo, Brazil, due to Robbie's employment with Corning Incorporated. Mary-Ann shared stories of their time in Brazil, where she learned Portuguese to communicate at the local market and to enroll their daughters, Shelley and Betsy, in school. Having two young children in a new country was no challenge for Mary-Ann, who immersed herself in the culture and made the most of the experience.

Their adventures eventually led Robbie to a job in Corning in 1968, where they settled in Bath, New York, to raise their family. Mary-Ann taught at the Presbyterian Church's nursery school while pursuing her master's degree in education. She went on to teach in the Campbell-Savona School District for 20 years. Robbie often traveled for work, and Mary-Ann managed her work while keeping up with her children's busy schedules and maintaining the household. She was a Brownie troop leader, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bath, and a member of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women. On the day of her passing, she met with a group of special friends from the Savona School staff, with whom she had regularly spent time for many years, playing games, crafting, and celebrating their friendships. In her retirement, she worked as a substitute teacher for the Bath School District and at the Dormann Library. Mary-Ann touched countless lives, and many remember her for her hugs and her gift of gab! She had an uncanny ability to make friends with anyone she encountered.

For over 30 years, Mary-Ann devoted much of her life to her grandchildren. She was not afraid to load up her van and take them on trips, giving them life experiences. She hosted numerous sleepovers, trips to Pizza Hut, the library, parks, and special events, among many others. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her grandkids!

The love of her life, Robert Robinson, with whom she enjoyed nearly 65 years of loving marriage, survives her. Along with three children, Shelley (James) Barker, Amey (James) Rusak, and Philip (Charlene) Robinson, all of Bath. In 1984, Mary-Ann and Robbie experienced what no parents ever should: the loss of their daughter Betsy Louise. Mary-Ann lost her beloved brother Pete (Paul C.) Toy in 2023.

Also surviving are her sister, Polly (the late Steve Starger); her sister-in-law, Judith; and her six grandchildren: Alexa (Justin) Sherwood, Daniel (Kerstin) Robinson, Allyson (Amber) Muller-Bass, Jenna (Matthew) O'Donnell, Dalton Robinson, and Mya Rusak. Her great-grandchildren: Emersyn, Madison, Sophia, Madelyn, Parker, and James. She also leaves behind many special nieces, nephews, extended family, countless friends, and many others whom she played the role of “mom” to.

To celebrate her life, the family will welcome friends on Friday, July 25th, at Fagan's Funeral Home in Bath, NY, with calling hours from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m.

Memorial donations can be made in Mary-Ann's memory to the First Presbyterian Church or the Dormann Library in Bath.