Diana Janice Robinson, age 65, of Seabrook, Texas, passed away January 25, 2024. She was born in Huntington, New York on October 4, 1958 to Kenneth and Louise Stamp and grew up in Centerport, New York. Shortly after moving to Houston in 1982 Diana met James Thomas Robinson. Jim was smitten with Diana and they were married in 1984.
After graduating from Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York in 1976, Diana attended Johnson and Wales College in Rhode Island before joining the Army in 1978. Diana trained as an Operating Room Specialist and attained the rank of SP5 before her Honorable Discharge in 1982. Upon moving to Houston, Texas Diana went to work for St. Luke’s Hospital in the Medical Center as an operating room nurse. In May of 1984 she went to work for the Lion’s Eye Bank at Baylor College of Medicine as an Organ Donor Coordinator. This would be her passion for the next 16 years. While at the Lion’s Eye Bank she worked tirelessly facilitating the donation and harvesting of thousands of corneas for use in restoration of sight and for use in eye research. After 16 years Diana left the Eyebank to spend more time with her daughters. She then began working as a substitute teacher for special education in her daughters’ school district. Later she would devote full time to the care and raising of her two girls, Jamie and Jessica.
During Diana’s childhood she spent summers at Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire where she enjoyed swimming, water skiing and sailing. She was an accomplished slalom water skier and participated in water ski shows. She was also an accomplished flute player and used this talent to play not only for her high school band but also for several local churches.
During her daughters’ childhoods Diana’s family lived in South Shore Harbor in League City, Texas. Diana devoted her time to making her daughters’ childhoods a happy fun filled time. There were outings to parks, zoos and wildlife parks, gymnastics lessons, cheer and dance lessons, sleepover parties and plain old “let’s pretend” play times. When the girls were old enough Diana had a backyard swimming pool built that her daughters and friends spent hours using and making memories. Diana loved animals and there were always furry pets in the house. The rescue dogs and cats, additional gerbils, hamsters, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, parakeets, doves and ducks became friends not only for her children but neighborhood kids as well. Once Diana raised two Peking ducklings and when they were grown, the ducks’ new home was the South Shore Harbor golf course behind her house.
Diana dove wholeheartedly into the role of grandmother or “Nonni.” She planned and participated in many outing and vacation memories with her young grandsons while also spending hours playing with them and the newest toy she could not pass up. As her cancer progressed and her energy levels were low, she created a new playground for her grandsons in her “big bed” playing games and watching their favorite shows.
Diana was a friend to the friendless throughout her life. As a schoolgirl when she saw someone alone Diana would approach them to make conversation so they would not feel alone. This continued throughout her life and she touched the lives of all who knew her.
Diana fought courageously through her battle with breast cancer. The advice she received during her support groups was generously shared by Diana to others who were suffering. She had a positive attitude and smile on her face even when sick from chemotherapy and in pain. She was an inspiration to those around her. The faith she received as a child baptized into the Methodist church and later in the Baptist church helped to give Diana the strength she needed during her 3.5 year battle.
Diana was preceded in death by her father and mother Kenneth and Louise Stamp, her older sister Patricia Philbin, and her younger sister Amanda Chase Margolies.
Diana is survived by her loving husband of 39 years, James Robinson, her daughter Jamie Whittenton and son-in-law Luke Whittenton, and her daughter Jessica Robinson. She is survived by her grandsons Lucas Whittenton, James Whittenton, and Jett Robinson. She is also survived by her older sister Linda Saarinen and her husband Steven Saarinen, as well as numerous nieces and nephews with whom she shared close relationships and meaningful experiences. Additionally, she leaves behind two best friends Dorothy Miller and Donnel Tormey, who shared countless cherished memories with her.
A visitation for Diana will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The funeral service will be held Sunday, February 4, 2024, to start at 1:30 PM and a committal service to follow. All services will be held at Forest Park East Funeral Home, located at 21620 Gulf Freeway in Webster, Texas.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to METAvivor to support metastatic breast cancer research, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Links are included below.
https://donate.metavivor.org/
https://secure.aspca.org/donate/ps-gn-p2?gclid=909040a4233c1d3b1c5326b1ae1d1b02&gclsrc=3p.ds&ds_rl=1066461&ms=MP_PMK_Bingbrand&initialms=MP_PMK_Bingbrand&pcode=WPSN7BG2PK01&lpcode=WPSN7BG1PK01&msclkid=909040a4233c1d3b1c5326b1ae1d1b02
