Eugene James Robinson was on February 26,1965 in New York City, NY. He was the youngest of four children born to Eugene Robinson and Edna Deves Robinson. Since there was already a Eugene in the household, the family called him by his middle name, and abbreviated that to Jay-Jay, or simply Jay. He was born with Down’s syndrome, a genetic condition leading to developmental delay and unique physical features.

Jay was a very curious and mischievous child. He loved to explore, and poke around in a way that was both endearing and annoying, especially to his older siblings, Barbara-Gene, the eldest, followed by his two brothers Larry and Jeffrey. But such a healthy concern with his surroundings was welcomed by his mother because it meant there was a lot going on in both his inner and outer world.

Jay attended the Shield Institute, a special school in Flushing, Queens. He spent a lot of his early childhood being cared for by his maternal grandmother, Lottie Deves, or Nana as she preferred to be called by us young ones. He loved watching Batman and Sesame Street on TV, and wrestling on the living room rug with his older brothers. Many summers Jay attended sleep away camps for special needs kids in the area and enjoyed the great outdoors.

In his mid-teens, Jay’s mother placed him at Cutie House, a group home for special needs young people run by the Catholic Charities Foundation in Sunnyside, Queens. Later on, the group home changed hands and was managed by the Heartshare Agency. Jay was an active young man competing in the Special Olympics, and playing basketball with neighborhood kids on the courts behind the group home. His all time favorite performer was Michael Jackson, and Jay was quite the performer himself, always ready to bust a MJ move on the dance floor to the delight of all in attendance. Jay also enjoyed volunteering to dress up as Santa Claus and give gifts to residents at a local senior living facility at Christmas time.

Jay was always a very gentle, easygoing person. He never let himself or anyone else define him by his disabilities or otherness.  He retained his mischievous, charming, and outgoing personality throughout his lifetime, smiling and waving at strangers from his wheelchair at the public playground near Healy House, where he lived out his final years. Jay was an inspiration to his family, friends and caregivers. He will be deeply missed by one and all. 

Lovingly Submitted,

The Family