Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Despite Last-Minute Changes, Senate Bill Deals Big Blow to Renewable Energy

11 hours ago

Trump-Backed Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Passes US Senate

12 hours ago

Homeland Security Secretary Noem Says CNN May Be Prosecuted Over Report on Migration App

13 hours ago

Israeli Officials to Hold Ceasefire Talks in Washington Amid Military Escalation in Gaza

14 hours ago

Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support

14 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

1 day ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

1 day ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

1 day ago
Fresno Will Miss Jill Robinson, a One-in-a-Million 'Doer'
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 6 years ago on
December 11, 2019

Share

Hardworking, compassionate, opinionated, and ahead of her time.
Organized, too.

Portrait of GV Wire News Director Bill McEwen
Bill McEwen
Opinion
Those are the marquee words describing Jill Blosser Robinson, who loved volunteering as much as she loved her family and business.
She died last month after a long illness at the age of 78.
I’m proud to have known her for nearly 30 years. She was the kind of friend who kept you on your toes. If you debated her, you better have your facts straight. If you worked on a project together, you better do the job right.
She’d share a story tip by saying, “Why aren’t you looking into …. ?” She said it with a tone implying any newsman worth his salt would have already known about it.

Determined to Make Fresno a Better Place

Robinson was a life-long Fresnan. She grew up on Michigan Avenue near Dailey Elementary School and graduated from Bullard High in 1959. Then it was off to University of the Pacific in Stockton. She graduated in four years with a degree in international relations.
An obituary written by family members captured her perfectly.
“She viewed friends as family and was often organizing or hosting events for family, friends or clubs — from shish-ka-bob for 200 in the back yard to ladies luncheons, men’s dinners, or holiday gatherings. She was always inclusive, excessively organized, the consummate hostess, and an excellent cook.”
Her passion for life and making Fresno a better place paid dividends for many nonprofits and the people they served.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Long before Chevron’s ad agency came up with the concept, Robinson was a “doer.”
Robinson owned and operated Blosser’s Sports Equipment with her brother Don, sister-in-law Pat, and husband Jud, for more than 40 years. She served on the Valley Children’s Hospital board for 25 years.

“She’d eat it every day if she could. On a trip to Hawaii, she nearly did. We had Chinese lunch and dinner for 14 straight days.” — Heidi Simpson, daughter of Jill Robinson
At times, her jammed calendar seemingly required her to be two places at once. That’s because she also was involved with the Junior League of Fresno, Holiday Boutique, Holiday Guild, Central California Daughters of the Nile, First Congregational Church, The Central California Women’s Conference, and Fig Garden Women’s Club. And she served as Kappa Alpha Theta adviser.
Robinson wasn’t bashful about dispensing advice — words of wisdom she had accumulated throughout her life. An example is what she always told her daughter and granddaughters: “Try your best. If you try your best, it is the best you can do. Even if your best isn’t good enough.”

The Menu Better Include Chinese

It’s impossible to talk about Robinson without bringing up Chinese food.
“She’d eat it every day if she could,” says her daughter, Heidi. “On a trip to Hawaii, she nearly did. We had Chinese lunch and dinner for 14 straight days.”
Jill is survived by her husband of 55 years, Justin “Jud” David Robinson; daughter Heidi Katrina Simpson; granddaughters Megan Riley Simpson and Makenna Renee Simpson; brother Don Jay Blosser; niece Jody Blosser-Tejeda and husband, Steve K. Tejeda; sister-in-law, Sonja Robinson; niece Patty Leyendecker, nephew Tom Robinson, niece Linda Keane, nephew Mike Robinson, and nephew Doug Robinson.

Memorial Service

A memorial service will be held Monday, Dec. 23, 10 a.m., at the First Congregational Church in Fresno, 2425 N. Van Ness Blvd., Fresno, CA, 93704.  A reception will follow.
Remembrances may be made to:
— Valley Children’s Hospital, 9300 Valley Children’s Place, Madera, CA 93636-8762 or at this link.
— Shriners Hospital for Children-Northern California, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817 or at this link.
— The First Congregational Church, 2131 N. Van Ness Blvd., Fresno, CA, 93704
 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

DON'T MISS

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

DON'T MISS

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

DON'T MISS

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

DON'T MISS

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

DON'T MISS

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

UP NEXT

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

UP NEXT

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

UP NEXT

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

UP NEXT

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

UP NEXT

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

UP NEXT

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

Trump Says US Could Reach Trade Deal With India, Casts Doubt on Deal With Japan

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

5 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

6 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

6 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

6 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

7 hours ago

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

7 hours ago

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

7 hours ago

Trump Says US Could Reach Trade Deal With India, Casts Doubt on Deal With Japan

7 hours ago

Jury Reaches Verdict on Some Counts at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

7 hours ago

How Wimbledon Is Tackling Its Hottest Opening on Record

8 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration released about 150 National Guard troops on Tuesday in the first pullback since it dispatched a milit...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

An Israeli military convoy manoeuvres near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, July 1, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
5 hours ago

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

Abel Joel Garcia Zarate, 39, of Biola, was arrested Sunday, June, 30, 2025, in Madera County on suspicion of starting a wildfire just hours after crews responded to a separate blaze sparked by farm equipment. (Madera County SO)
5 hours ago

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

5 hours ago

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERSStringerFile Photo
6 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

6 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

Lara Trump looks on during Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

A Google logo is seen at a company research facility in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 13, 2025. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend