Morris Township woman making difference for Greater Morristown kids, one lap at a time

By Berit A. Ollestad

Her name is Robin Robertson, but she is affectionately known as Ma’am.  For her 60th birthday, the Morris Township resident wanted to make a splash, literally, for special needs children of Greater Morristown.

Robin has signed on to swim six miles today, Sept. 16, in the saltwater pool in the new Headquarters Plaza fitness club to raise money and awareness for the non-profit program SNAP (Special Needs Athletic Programs).

The focus of SNAP is to create a culture of acceptance by creating sports clinics for children with special needs. They can accomplish this in a myriad of ways, such as setting up buddy programs for children most in need of special resources.  Matthew Certner created SNAP when he was only 15 years old. His mission of awareness and acceptance for all children has developed through his “kids helping kids” motto.

Robin is no stranger to advocacy for children with special needs.  In high-school Robin volunteered in a school for youths who at the time were described as mentally retarded.

“We have come a long way since we no longer find that to be an  acceptable word to describe individuals that are ‘different,” she said.

Robin runs the Morristown Tae Kwan Do Club, which she uses to promote diversity and acceptance for 100 youth participants as well as the 50-plus adults who participate.

By calling it  a “club,” she emphasizes learning and having fun. “Membership” is open to all; the club operates on a sliding fee scale and does not turn any one away for lack of the ability to pay. “It is often the ones that could benefit the most from martial arts training, that are not in a position financially to contribute,” Robin explained.

It becomes evident rather quickly that Robin isn’t one for putting labels or limitations on people. She was born into the Jewish faith but identifies with many other religions as well. She sees many religions as interconnected. It’s just how the information is disseminated that makes them different.

Previously, Robin has been involved in the local Community Soup Kitchen as well as the local Interfaith Hospitality Network  in Morristown. She particularly enjoyed the opportunity on any given day to work with individuals from different cultural backgrounds.

She is past president of New Jersey AIDS Services (formerly known as the Eric Johnson House) where she currently serves as a trustee. She became an AIDS advocate after a friend lost his wife, a nurse who was exposed to tainted blood.

Robin recalled another Brazilian man she knew from riding the same train each day. One day he no longer was there. She discovered the fate of her fellow commuter when she saw his name on an AIDS quilt.

Robin’s compassion extends beyond people. She has been known to “rescue the occasional four-legged variety” as well. Her family currently includes a couple of cats and two dogs that were originally rescued from Puerto Rico.

Emmi (pictured)enjoys being chaffered around town these days due to the fact that she tore her ACL last year. Robin has set up a Facebook page to track the trials and tribulations of being her dog. If you are looking to lighten your

mood, visit the FB page for “Lama Emmi.”

Speaking of Facebook, SNAP will be posting photos of Robin’s swim throughout the day on its Facebook page. Robin will attempt to swim the entire six miles nonstop.

In case you are wondering, that works out to 240 laps (one lap = swimming from one end and back).  Acknowledging she “isn’t the fastest swimmer,”  Robin estimated it should take approximately six hours to accomplish this feat. Not your typical 60-year-old, for sure.  She once had to call her mom to confirm how old she will be on Oct. 13.

Robin credits her mom, who lived into her 80s, as  her inspiration to stay active and never allow herself to grow old.  Robin described her mother as an exceptional dancer who often would outlast Robin and her friends when she would join them for a night out. On October 13, Robin’s actual birthday, Robin will attempt to break 60 boards consecutively.

Why does she do so much for those with special needs?

“I have faith in their loveliness and I don’t want to see them shut away in a home somewhere,” Robin said without hesitation. “They deserve the same opportunities to live a full and rewarding life as the rest of us.”

Renata Stokes, a student herself and a mother to three boys in the youth program, is a big fan.

“Ma’am believes in your abilities to be successful and she gives unconditional support to help you reach your goals,” she said.

Yeison (pronounced Jason) De Los Santos, a Morristown police officer, has been an understudy of Ma’am for more than 12 years. For the last decade he has been the club’s youth director.

“Ma’am is like a second mom to me who offers compassion, love and support by creating a loving family-like atmosphere at the club,” he said.

After training with Ma’am for a couple of years, Yeison expressed an interest in competing at the state level. Robin worked with him and gave him the love and support needed to secure the state Tae Kwon Do title in his weight division in 1998.

Robin is set to start swimming at 10 am.  Clearly, she is an example of what makes Morristown so special–people who go that extra mile. Or, in Robin’s case, “That extra lap.”

READ MORE ABOUT SNAP

READ MORE ABOUT THE MORRISTOWN TAE KWAN DO CLUB