World War 2 veteran turning 100
Howard Robinson has lived on Fort Myers Beach the past 30 years
Fort Myers Beach is home to several World War 2 veterans.
The family of one such veteran approaching his centennial wishes to share one of their stories.
Howard G. Robinson Jr., of Fort Myers Beach, will be turning 100 on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Robinson grew up in Rhode Island. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 after having worked at a local mill and the U.S. Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island.
According to a biography provided by his family, Robinson served on 10 ships, was a Navy recruiter in Bangor, Maine; an instructor at Great Lakes, Illinois and at Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. Howard retired in 1967 after serving his country for more than 24 years.
Howard taught basic electronics at the North Chicago Community High School to adult night classes. He held a general class amateur radio license and a first class commercial radio telephone license with a radar endorsement.
After retirement from the Navy, Howard operated Coastal Electronics in Stonington, Connecticut, a marine electronic repair facility working on various vessels. “His work consisted of repair and installation of radar, radio transmitters, automatic pilots, depth indicators, radio control devices, loran, radio direction finders, and master antenna TV systems,” a biography provided from the family stated.
He also worked for the state’s Marine Research Laboratory as a research assistant.
Robinson was married to Julia (Rozanski) for 57 years until Julia’s passing. They have four children.
Howard and Julia purchased their home on Fort Myers Beach 30 years ago.
A sailing enthusiast, he has traveled up and down the East Coast down to the Bahamas. At the age of 88, Howard purchased a travel trailer and has made four trips across the country visiting his children and seeing the countryside. Howard also participated in the Honor Flight to Washington, DC.
“Howard’s family will be celebrating this momentous occasion with him,” the family stated.