"Try so to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world."
                         - John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Leroy Dale Robinson, a long-time resident of San Leandro who taught for 32 years in the San Leandro Unified School District, died suddenly and at peace on April 24, 2021. He was 84 years old.

Dale grew up on a family farm in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He left at the age of 18 to join the US Navy, serving as a radar operator on a destroyer during the Korean War. That service allowed him to earn a BA in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and an MA in reading education from Holy Names College. Dale's lifelong love of reading was reflected both in his long career as an English teacher and in his private life. He read voraciously, from the poetry of George Herbert to novels by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and at the age of 83 became an avid Kindle user.

His 24-year retirement was filled with the things he liked best. He cooked and ate good food, talked Democratic politics (he was particularly thrilled to see Joe Biden elected President), took many cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean, and enjoyed regular movie dates followed by afternoon martinis with his beloved wife of 46 years, Dorinda "Dori" Robinson. In addition to Dori, he is survived by his children – Derek, Sharon, and Greg – and six grandchildren.

At Dale’s request there will be no funeral service. He expressed the hope that friends consider giving, in his memory, to the causes he believed in and supported: the Bay Area Rescue Mission, KQED Public Media, and Planned Parenthood.