Claude D Robinson
July 20, 1943 - January 31, 2025
Claude Dougald Robinson was born on July 20, 1943 to Dougald G and Mary Katherine (Trevitt) Robinson of Republic, Washington, while his father was away serving on the naval submarine USS Seawolf in World War II. After his father returned from the war and completed his service, the family ultimately settled on Bainbridge Island where Claude graduated high school in 1961.
Claude started college at his parents’ alma mater Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington and later completed his education with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in 1967. He enlisted and served as an officer the U.S. Marine Corps, and was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal for his heroism and exemplary service in Vietnam.
After returning home, Claude met and married the love of his life, Janet. They welcomed their first child Amy while living in Southern California before ultimately pursuing “the grand adventure” of life in Alaska when Claude accepted a job offer to work on the Trans Alaska Pipeline. That adventure took them first to Fairbanks, and later Valdez, where he and Janet welcomed son, Peter, and daughter, Molly, before they were relocated to Anchorage, and then returned to Fairbanks.
Claude retired from Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in 2002 and moved back home to Washington to be near family. In retirement, Claude enjoyed old trains and machinery of all kinds, learning about genealogy, history, and archaeology, rock hounding and treasure seeking, and, with Janet, daily long walks along the water and road trips to visit friends and relatives throughout the Pacific Northwest. Claude and Janet also cultivated rich friendships as active members of the church families and local communities they were a part of throughout their life together.
Claude passed away at home in Vancouver, Washington surrounded by his wife and daughters on January 31, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 54 ½ years, Janet, his daughter Amy Robinson of Vancouver, Washington, his son Peter, daughter in law Nicole and beloved grandson Andrew Robinson of Silsbee, Texas, and his youngest daughter Molly Robinson of Vancouver, Washington, as well as his sister Lenore (Robinson) Chambers and her husband Doug of Republic, Washington, and sister Mary Robinson Mohr and her husband Randy of Bellingham, Washington.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday February 22, 2025 at Columbia Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, Washington.
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Donations may be made in Claude’s name to:
North America Indigenous Ministries (NAIM), PO Box 499, Sumas, WA 98295, or online at www.naim.ca, General Ministry Fund, (https://www.naim.ca/donation/general-ministry-fund/) and include Claude’s name in the “additional information” tab at “checkout.”
Wycliffe Bible Translators, online at www.wycliffe.org reference “In Memory of Claude Robinson”
Bainbridge High School, Class of ’61 Scholarship, c/o Bainbridge Community Foundation, by clicking this link https://bit.ly/Class61. Or via the foundations website at https://bainbridgecf.org/ and select the blue donate button at the top of the page and then select the BHS Class of '61 Scholarship. Checks can be made out to Bainbridge Community Foundation and note that this is for the BHS Class of '61 Scholarship in memory of Claude Robinson.
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We regret to inform you of the passing of former Alyeska employee Claude D. Robinson on January 31, 2025. Claude joined Alyeska on Nov. 1,1976, working on the pipeline in Fairbanks. In 1978, Claude moved to Valdez, where he was responsible for iconic projects like the installation of the Pipeline Construction Monument at the Valdez Marine Terminal. He served as the designated Oil Spill Response Coordinator for years, aiding in cleanup of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in 1989. Claude retired from Alyeska on Oct. 27, 2002, ending his career as a Conceptual Engineer. In retirement, Claude enjoyed old trains and machinery of all kinds, learning about genealogy, history, archaeology, rock hounding, and treasure seeking.
A memorial service to celebrate Claude’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Columbia Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, Wash. Claude’s obituary is available at Obituary information for Claude D. Robinson.
Alyeska Corporate Communications
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Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Vancouver, WA
George Heywood
So sorry to hear about Claud. Remember him well.
Tom McCarty
Claude had a great spirit and was a joy to work with. His positive attitude and ability to bring people together to resolve issues were respected throughout the company and in the community. I enjoyed knowing Claude. He was just an all-around good guy.
Greg Kinney
Claude's obituary was a reflection of his humility. He never saw a need to hype his own contributions to Alyeska, but he was a great contributor. He never mentioned it, but in his role as Conceptual Engineering Lead in Fairbanks, it was a late-1990s conversation with Glen Pomeroy about the need for TAPS modernization, and the potential strategy around it, that formed the foundation of the Strategic Reconfiguration initiative.
Claude was among the nicest people you would ever meet, and he was always about building his team and facilitating their accomplishments. His character left a positive stamp on those of us fortunate enough to work with him.