John E. Robinson of Hazel Hill Farm, Sussex, passed away at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Saturday January 9, 2016. John was born a son of the late Ernest and Nettie (nee Leiper) Robinson and raised on a family farm in Sussex, NB. He graduated in 1954 from Sussex High School and completed farm management and business courses. John and his wife Elizabeth started farming in 1961 with the purchase of the home farm, milking about 20 cows and growing vegetables. John’s dedication to the farming community was extensive. He was a director on the New Brunswick Milk Marketing Board, now Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick, for 15 years, Vice-Chairman for six years, and Chairman for five years. He was President of the NB Holstein Branch, Director of Holstein Canada, President of the Sussex Holstein Club, Chairman of the Review Board for Farm Credit Corporation, NB Agriculture Development Board, Canadian Farm Business Management provincial coordinating group and a member of the New Brunswick Farm Products Commission. John’s hard work was recognized by his peers when the NB Institute of Agrologists presented him with the Louis Hebert Award as Farmer of the Year and he was inducted into the New Brunswick Dairy Hall of Fame in 1998 and inducted into the Atlantic Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2009. John’s commitments extended to the community as well. He received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation, he was involved with the Fundy Mutual Insurance as a director and Chairman, he was involved with the Scout and Girl Guide Association, the Figure Skating Association, the Minor Hockey Association, basketball, St. Paul’s United Church; he was a past board member of Kiwanis Nursing Home, the Princess Louise Park Committee, the Potash Corp. Civic Centre Fundraising Committee and Campaign Chair, as well as a director of the Sussex Area Community Foundation. John always felt that there are many benefits to being involved in agriculture including the growing of crops, the raising of livestock and the desire to leave the land in at least as good if not better condition than when you started. The greatest benefit of agricultural life was having the opportunity to raise children in a farming environment. He so appreciated the many friends that he made over the years with all his organizational involvement. John is survived by his wife Elizabeth (nee Coy) of 55 years; his children: Heather Gariepy (David) and their children: Elyse & Daniel Gariepy, Wendy Gallant (Ray) and their children: Josée & Alex Gallant, John Robinson (Nicky) and their children: Marcus & John Robinson, and Derek Robinson (Angela) and their children: Josh (Twyla), Jared & Ashley Robinson; his brother-in-law Neil Coy (Elizabeth), as well as by many other extended family members and friends. Besides his parents, John was predeceased by his infant daughter Carolyn and his sisters: Marion Moore and Betty Bell. Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of Sussex Select Community Funeral Home, 21 Aiton Road, Sussex, from where visitation will be held on Tuesday January12, 2016 from 1-3 & 6-8 pm. A funeral service commemorating John’s life will be held on Wednesday January 13, 2016 at 11:00 am in St. Paul’s United Church with Rev. Scott Hillier presiding. Interment will be held in Kirk Hill Cemetery. Donations to St. Paul’s United Church or the Sussex Area Community Foundation in memory of John would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences are available at: www.sussexfh.com