John Donald Robb Jr.

ROBB, John Donald, Jr. An award-winning lawyer who was also a passionate and tireless advocate of the poor and homeless, died on July 13, 2014 at the age of 90. He was the much beloved father of John D. Robb III, Celeste Robb-Nicholson, Ellen Bea Robb, Bradford Hight Robb, George Geoffrey Robb, and David Robb. He also leaves 20 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and is survived by his two sisters, Priscilla McDonnell and Nancy Briggs. His wife of 68 years, Peggy, died in May. John moved to New Mexico to be with his parents John and Harriet Robb, who moved to Albuquerque in 1941. John’s father was the Dean of the College of Fine Arts at UNM and founded the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music and UNM’s Robb Musical Trust, which John eagerly supported during the past 25 years. John was educated at Yale and UNM, and received his law degree from the University of Minnesota. He was proud to be a partner of the Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin and Robb law firm in Albuquerque, where since 1951 he focused mainly on environmental and natural resources law and litigation. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and was awarded the Outstanding Lawyer of the Year and also the Distinguished Service Award by the State Bar of New Mexico for his local efforts. At the national level, he served as the past National Chairman of the American Bar Association Committee on Atomic Energy and also as National Chairman of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants which propelled him into a special calling to fight for equal justice before the law for the poor and homeless in our country. He helped establish the Legal Services Corporation, a federally funded program to provide legal aid for those who cannot afford it. Without his persistence, the ABA states that “Legal Services, the Corporation as we know it, may not even exist today”. John also served the Christian Legal Society as chairman and director of its Public Ministries Committee, developing and expanding Christian legal aid in many parts of the country and inspiring similar programs overseas. Hundreds of thousands of desperate people have been helped through such secular and faith-based efforts. John was a vibrant follower of Jesus Christ who shined with His light and love, quietly helping people less fortunate than himself with great generosity and humility. He always had an upbeat, positive attitude, encouraging and inspiring all those around him. He felt called to “speak up for people who could not speak for themselves,” and defend their rights, as fellow human beings. He will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched. John firmly believed in Jesus’ promise, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” We have confidence that he is with the Lord that he loved and served so enthusiastically and with the love of his life, Peggy. His memorial service will be Thursday, July 24, 2014, 10:00 a.m., at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Rd. NE in Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to one of these organizations that John loved and supported: Gospel Justice Initiative, 1750 Grandstand Pl., Ste. 1, Elgin, IL 60123 (legal aid for the poor); Joy Junction, 4500 2nd St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 (ministry to the homeless); UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust, MSC 04-2570 College of Fine Arts, 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 (advances his father’s musical legacy and the music of the Southwest). Please visit our online guestbook for John at www.FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH - Westside 9300 Golf Course Rd NW 505-897-0300