Obituary of Riva F. Robinson

Dr. Riva F. Robinson, 89, of Niles, Michigan, formerly of Santa Maria and Blythe, California passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. He was born on November 7, 1927 in San Andres, Colombia, South America to the late Walter L. and Crisilda M. (Kemble) Robinson. Riva was the patriarch of the Robinson family. After graduating from high school, Riva followed in the footsteps of his father by becoming a seaman. He learned to navigate by the stars and was on his way to becoming a sea captain when he changed course and decided to further his education. Riva attended Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University) graduating with a double major in Business and History and a minor in French. On July 18, 1954, he married Vivien D. Townsend at a ceremony in Worthington, Ohio. Riva was among the first of his family to emigrate from his beloved Providence and San Andres Islands to the United States. He then helped many of his seven siblings follow him to this country. At the age of 40, Riva returned to school to study medicine at Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico. He practiced family medicine for many years in Paw Paw, Michigan and in Santa Maria & Blythe, California. His education was sponsored through generous loans and gifts from friends and family. He then paid it forward by assisting untold others with furthering their education. Riva took great joy in sharing his love of history and genealogy with his extended family and numerous friends. After retiring from medical practice at the age of 79, he wrote four books: "Island Anecdotes" (a history of the islands of San Andres and Providence where he grew up, Anecdotas Isleñas (the same book in Spanish), a biography of his mother titled "She Shall Be Praised" and his own autobiography "My Journey" in the last decade of his life. Riva was a modern-day Renaissance Man. He loved music, history, science and travel and spoke French, Spanish, English and Creole fluently. There were two passions in Riva's life: Religion and Baseball. Riva was a lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and was instrumental in starting and nurturing churches in Santa Maria & Blythe and the Rocky Point School in Providence, Colombia. In the final years of his life, he regularly attended both the Berrien Springs Seventh-day Adventist Spanish Church and the Pioneer Memorial Church at Andrews University. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Tulio and Mario Robinson. Dr. Robinson is survived by his wife Vivien Robinson of Vacaville, California, his children; Pastor Riva F. Robinson, Jr. (Luz) of Santa Barbara, California, Ronald E. Robinson (Dr. Joseph Gress) of Niles, Dr. Rhonda Ringer (Bert) of Orlando, Florida and Richard Robinson (Timothy Burkhart) of Vacaville, California, seven grandchildren (Erika, Abbe, Ryan, Peter & Andrew (Kylee) Robinson and Summer & Anastasia Ringer), one great-grandchild (Jacob), two step-grandsons (Clayton & Austin Ringer); Riva's siblings; Arna (Dr. Gordon) Gilkes of Yankee Hill, California, Zita Robinson of Blythe, California, Loida (Orvil) Archbold of Fortuna, California, Lisa Robinson of Blythe, California and Dr. Efren (Elvira) Robinson of Costa Rica. A memorial service will be held at the Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 11 a.m. A luncheon will be provided at the church following the service. Memorial contributions for Dr. Riva Robinson may be directed to the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church for the benefit of the Rocky Point School in Providence.