Mary Robinson

Mary Mignon Avery Robinson, 88, of Potsdam/Sandfordville, passed away on the evening of December 23, 2024 under hospice care at her beloved daughter's home, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Born in Tuxedo Park, NY on April 26, 1936 to the late Howard Shaeffer Avery and Mary Louise Steele Avery. Mary attended the College of William & Mary, and graduated from Cornell University after studying Botany and Biology.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Richard Gerlach, Jr of 38 years, husband Joseph Robinson of 8 years, her brother Shae Avery, and her stepson Richard Gerlach, III.

Mary is survived by her sister Byrd Lochtie, brother Giles Avery, her children Rebecca (Eofn) Scudder Williams, Michael (Lyda) Scudder, Melissa (David) Scudder Durham, Timothy Gerlach, her step-children Ralph (Sharon) Gerlach, Jennifer (Rich) Theiss, Andrea (Andrew) Crouch, Rob (Laura) Gerlach, daughter-in-law Deb Gerlach Baldwin, Daniel (Jennifer) Robinson, Kelly (David) Whalen, John (Jennifer) Robinson, William (Sonia) Robinson, and Ellen Cooney, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

While raising her children, Mary opened her home at the Farm and influenced hundreds of college students from Clarkson University and SUNY Potsdam. She then worked as an elementary school science teacher at Grenville Christian College in Brockville, Ontario for many years, and finished her career in 2023 teaching Physics as well as Health, at Parishville-Hopkinton Central School. She also taught Zoom Chemistry classes to homeschool students.

Mary was a lover of teaching and learning, science, gardening, and doll-making. She was a Girl Scouts troop leader and enjoyed sharing her love of nature, hiking and the outdoors with young girls. She founded and operated the Canadian Heritage Doll brand, impacting young girls with homemade dolls of various ethnic, social and cultural identities. She was a Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Preserver and Master Gardener. She was a real renaissance woman! As well as Mary being a philanthropist, gifts from her often included donations on behalf of the recipient to benefit the less fortunate in other countries, such as wells, farm animals and bees. She sponsored numerous children in other countries for decades. She had an interest in taxidermy - in fact, there are still critters in her freezer awaiting their turn!

She was a dedicated and active member of Knapp Station Community Church. She ran a Girls Club, taught Sunday School to teens and adults, participated in Intercessory Prayer, and enjoyed putting on puppet shows for the kids. She had a special affinity for Psalm 91, finding particular pleasure in reciting that scripture as she watched the birds in the feeder outside her window. Her favorite bird was the cardinal: a symbol of spiritual vitality, devotion, passion, and loving relationships - all things Mary valued and embodied. Mary and her late husband Richard were one of the founding families in 1969 of Koinonia Church (now New Hope) in Potsdam, NY.

Funeral arrangements are with Hammill Funeral Home in Winthrop. A time of visitation will be at Knapp Station Community Church on December 28, 2024 at 11:00am, immediately followed by the Funeral Service at 12:00pm. For gifts in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Knapp Station Community Church, Girl Scouts of America, or Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley.