ROBINSON, William Douglas Mackenzie Robinson

Passed away unexpectedly on the morning of April 29, 2026. He was a loving husband to the late Barbara (nee Mackay), and cherished father to Gordon (Stephanie), Peter (Melissa), and Sarah (Derek). He was a devoted grandfather to Aiden, Jack and Drew. He was the fifth child of Auley and Annie (McRae) Robinson. He was predeceased by his sisters Pat (Roger), Grace (Bill), Florie (Donnie) and his brother Stanley. He is survived by his many nieces and nephews.

Doug was born September 20, 1942, in Montreal but raised in Glen Robertson (The Glen), a small town in Eastern Ontario which would hold a special place in his heart his whole life. He was commonly known as Skippy by those in The Glen. Doug was proud of his Scottish heritage and loved genealogy. He went to the University of Toronto for library school and obtained his Master of Library Science degree. It was there that he met and later married his beloved wife, Barbara. He went on to work at the University Library at U of T, followed by a move to Peterborough to work at Trent University. His three children were born in Peterborough. The family moved to Ottawa in 1981 when Doug got a job at The National Library of Canada. Doug loved his work at the National Library, working there for 25 years until his retirement in 2006.

William Douglas Mackenzie Robinson and Barbara were both very active members of Rideau Park United Church. Doug was an avid golfer and curled for decades with both Rideau Park United Church and the RA centre. He was also a lifelong Leaf’s fan, and shared the unique distinction, held by very few others, of being a Leaf fan who has actually witnessed them win a Stanley Cup. Despite living and raising a family with Barbara in Ottawa for more than 4 decades, his heart never strayed far from “home”, the place he grew up in The Glen. Doug visited The Glen frequently over the years and when he could not be there, he made every effort to stay connected. He always made sure his calendar was free every August long weekend to return for the Maxville Highland Games. He was also an active member of the Glengarry Club of Ottawa and enjoyed a continuous subscription to the Glengarry News (until it stopped publishing in 2023), always reading the paper in its entirety, so as to stay connected with the comings and goings of the community and its people.

While Doug took every opportunity he could get to return to The Glen, he also loved packing the family up and going for a couple of weeks on an annual summer vacation to High Falls near Bracebridge. Doug was also a big animal lover, and all the family cats over the years (Spunky, Nipper, Smokey, Molly and Garth) brought him great joy. He also loved to recount how in his childhood at the farm in The Glen he had a pet fox (Johnny) and pet raccoon (which he said remained nameless).

While maybe not a surprise given his vocation in life as a librarian, Doug was an avid reader, with a house full of bookshelves (full of books he actually read, not merely for show). He also meticulously maintained personal journals, into which he documented his daily life over the course of decades. Doug loved to listen to other people’s stories, especially ones that were humorous and recounted with enthusiasm. He and Barbara loved to travel and went to several countries in Europe, notably Scotland, a place he always wanted to see. They also traveled to Australia when their son Pete and daughter in law Melissa were living there. Doug and Barbara enjoyed a long and active retirement and, while he will be greatly missed by friends and family that loved him, his family takes comfort in knowing he is finally returning to The Glen.

Family and friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor) on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5 – 8 p.m.

Funeral Service to be held at St Andrew’s United Church, 21872 Round Church Drive, in Dalhousie Mills, Ontario (the Round Church) on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 1 p.m. Interment in the Church Cemetery. A Reception will follow in the Church Hall.