2007.09.18: September 18, 2007: Headlines: COS - Togo: Obituaries: Staff: Headquarters: Philadelphia Inquirer: Obituary for Sandra J. Robinson, Former Director of Peace Corps Training for Togo, Regional Director in Africa
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2007.09.18: September 18, 2007: Headlines: COS - Togo: Obituaries: Staff: Headquarters: Philadelphia Inquirer: Obituary for Sandra J. Robinson, Former Director of Peace Corps Training for Togo, Regional Director in Africa
Obituary for Sandra J. Robinson, Former Director of Peace Corps Training for Togo, Regional Director in Africa
Starting in 1980, Miss Robinson was director of training for the Peace Corps in Lome, Togo. Five years later she was named a regional director in Africa for the Peace Corps before moving to Washington in the 1990s to join Bureau of Rehabilitation.
Obituary for Sandra J. Robinson, Former Director of Peace Corps Training for Togo, Regional Director in Africa
Sandra J. Robinson, counselor, humanitarian
By Gayle Ronan Sims
Inquirer Staff Writer
Sandra J. Robinson, 66, a former Philadelphia police officer, substance-abuse counselor, and director of Peace Corps trainees in Africa, died of lung cancer Sept. 6 at her home in Washington.
Miss Robinson had been executive director of the Bureau of Rehabilitation of the National Capital Area Inc. in Lanham, Md., for the last 10 years.
She also owned a home in Germantown.
A little girl with big dreams, Miss Robinson at age 4 announced to her family, suitcase in hand, that she was going to Hollywood to help Bing Crosby with the USO.
"She never met Bing Crosby, but she did many things to help people all over the world," said her sister, Tamara Robinson.
After graduating from West Philadelphia High School in 1957, Miss Robinson worked a variety of jobs and volunteered for many charities. In 1962, she joined the Philadelphia Police Department. She worked in the Juvenile Aid Division and with the Civil Disobedience Unit during a time of racial unrest.
"My sister helped keep the peace during the march around the wall of Girard College in the 1960s and was trained to be an FBI agent in 1973, the year after she left the police force," her sister said.
Miss Robinson earned a bachelor's in sociology from La Salle College in 1973 and switched from law enforcement to helping addicts fight substance abuse.
For about 10 years, Miss Robinson worked as an addiction counselor at Eagleville Hospital Rehabilitation Center; at the treatment center in St. Joseph's Hospital in Reading; and in the department of psychiatry at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. For four years, she was director of a drug-abuse center in Salt Lake City.
Starting in 1980, Miss Robinson was director of training for the Peace Corps in Lome, Togo.
Five years later she was named a regional director in Africa for the Peace Corps before moving to Washington in the 1990s to join Bureau of Rehabilitation.
Miss Robinson continued to consult with African institutions to help provide medical aid and substance-abuse centers until her health began to fail.
In 2006, Miss Robinson was given the Pride of Philadelphia Award by the Philadelphia Public School Retired Employees Association for former students who excelled in their careers.
Miss Robinson has no immediate survivors besides her sister. Burial was private.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: September, 2007; Peace Corps Togo; Directory of Togo RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Togo RPCVs; Obituaries; Staff; Peace Corps Headquarters
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Story Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Togo; Obituaries; Staff; Headquarters
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