Julie Ann Robinson, an accomplished interior designer and beloved mother, wife, sister, aunt, cousin and boss, died at home in West Tisbury on Oct. 7, surrounded by loved ones, after a short yet courageous battle with ALS and frontotemporal dementia. She was 78.
Julie lived what could have been several lifetimes, spanning continents and vastly different ways of life. Raised in an upper-middle-class New York household, she went on to sail around the world with a free-spirited anarchist, living off the land and sea, before raising her family and establishing an interior design business on Martha’s Vineyard.
Born in Manhattan on March 21, 1948 to Eugenie and Benjamin Robinson, she was the youngest of four children and grew up in White Plains, N.Y. She attended the Barlow School and Lasell Junior College before studying photography at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles.
In 1976, newly divorced and at a crossroads, she arrived on Martha’s Vineyard in a Morgan sports car, returning to an Island she had known since childhood summers.
While her father encouraged her to pursue a conventional life in New York, her sister-in-law, Ingrid Robinson, urged her to travel. Julie chose adventure over comfort. Her travels took her to Santa Barbara, where she met Dennis White, an adventurous sailor whose unconventional outlook contrasted with her upbringing. Together on the Emma Goldman, a 28-foot Herreshoff ketch, they embarked on an eight-year voyage. Living simply, they supported themselves through carpentry, sail repairs, cushions and canvas work for fellow sailors.
Dennis laid out the jobs while Julie did the sewing, using skills learned in childhood lessons arranged by her mother.
Their journey took them across the Pacific to Australia, where their first son, Sasha, was born in 1981. Three years later, their second son, Joshua, was conceived near Sri Lanka. Following pregnancy complications in South Africa, Julie flew to Barbados to give birth and care for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. Dennis made the 56-day Atlantic crossing to reunite with her.
Eventually, the family returned to Martha’s Vineyard, where Julie and Dennis dismantled their boat and spent six years building a new, 41-foot Emma Goldman. Aboard her, they spent two winters homeschooling their sons and continuing their adventures.
In 1987, Julie founded The Canvas Company, which evolved into Julie Robinson Interiors. Beginning in the family basement and aboard the Emma Goldman, she built one of the Vineyard’s premier design businesses. Her artistic eye, attention to detail, and enduring client relationships earned her multiple “Best of the Vineyard” awards. Her business also provided employment for Island residents, many of whom became lifelong friends. She took great pride in her work and the personal connections she formed along the way.
She served as an emergency medical technician, participated in search and rescue efforts and supported Island charities and neighbors in need.
In 2008, she survived stage III ovarian cancer. Through that experience and her later struggles, she retained her beautiful smile, remarkable energy, warmth, courage and positive attitude.
She appreciated the finest fabrics and furnishings while knowing how to make do with very little. Through every chapter, her independent spirit, resourcefulness, strength and genuine love of people remained constant.
Julie was predeceased by her husband, Dennis White, and parents, Eugenie and Benjamin Robinson.
She is survived by her sons, Sasha and Joshua Robinson-White; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Rothwell; sister, Toni Robinson, and her husband, Michael; brother, John Robinson, and his wife, Fredelle; brother, Jeffrey Robinson, and his wife, Dtai; cousin, John Robinson, and his wife, Lupi; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
A celebration of Julie’s life will be held Sunday, Nov, 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA of Cape Cod Hospice, whose compassionate staff cared for Julie and Dennis during their final year.