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I thought people might be interested in our thoughts on our daughter Robin, who died late last month. In addition to us—Nancy and Bill Boyarsky—Robin leaves behind many others who loved her, especially her husband Russell Smith, her sister Jennifer Boyarsky Doliner, her brother-in-law John Doliner, and her nieces, Anabelle Doliner and Lila Doliner, who adored her.
Bill on Robin: What we most remember about Robin is her wit, intelligence and love for her family. Her humor was expressed in her art, her wisecracks, and anecdotes about her friends and life. She was a funny cartoonist. Her depictions of great Boyarsky family moments portrayed our flooded Virginia basement, our disastrous decision to tow a trailer to Tahoe with our Volkswagon and, of course, our cats. Other art was darker, reflecting her brilliant, complex mind. We enjoyed visiting her at Franklin Canyon Park where she worked for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. We’d have a picnic lunch and walk around the park, circling the lake where she seemed to know every duck and turtle. She also loved Hollywood and the craziness of L.A. We’ll miss her every day.
Nancy on Robin: Robin did have her dark moods. But I also remember the many good moments we had together. There was no better company, no wittier companion. She had so many gifts: her great intelligence, her art, her appreciation for nature, her talent for writing, her warm and loving nature, the passion she shared with us for Victorian novels and other good books. She had a lot of screwy ideas and prejudices (for example, her life-long hatred of mayonnaise), which her father and I referred to as “notions.” She insisted they were not notions, but deeply held principles. In one of our last email exchanges, I tried to explain a mixup about a funny valentine ecard I’d sent her. “I know,” she wrote back. “I always knew. Where did you get this notion that I didn’t? It was very funny and I laughed and laughed! What larks we had! What larks!”
