Alexander Robertson was born on March 3 1922 in Crooksville Ohio Alex died at home surrounded by his family on April 22 2011. Son of Scottish immigrants Alex nicknamed "Tubby" by his family for being the skinny youngest child of six he began school early when his mom enrolled him using his older sister's birthday information. He spent most of his youth in Cambridge Ohio playing baseball in the neighborhood cemetery hoping trains with his friends and lettering on his high school basketball team. Anxious to serve his country in World War II he begged his dad to sign for him and finally got permission to join the Coast Guard. He began his service with the Coast Guard in Brownsville Texas training guard dogs and patrolling the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. The last three years of the war was spent on a supply ship traveling the Pacific Ocean supporting the Navy. At the conclusion of the war Alex returned to Ohio to attend college on the G.I. Bill. He attended Muskingum College in New Concord Ohio where he met the love of his life Mary. They married in 1948 and Alex began his teaching and coaching career in Newcomerstown Ohio. Alex and Mary were popular with the high school students and continued to be invited back to the high school reunions up until his death. Alex and Mary moved their family to Daytona Beach in 1957 when he joined Volusia County Schools as a teacher at Lenox Elementary on Daytona's beachside. In 1962 Alex was named principal of Lenox and with that began his career as an administrator. A strong advocate for public education Alex joined the teachers during the 1968 Florida teachers' strike as they marched for adequate funding for Florida schools. One of just twenty administrators who joined the teachers Alex was not allowed to return to Lenox but instead was assigned to Seabreeze Junior High School as the school district's first curriculum specialist. His time at Seabreeze was short but was marked by great weekend golf games as a member of the "Fearless Foursome". After Seabreeze Alex was appointed to be an assistant principal at Mainland Junior. Throughout his career Alex was known as a strict disciplinarian with a heart of gold. Many people in our community could tell stories of visiting Mr. Robertson's office in the days when paddling was still the norm. Following his tenure at Mainland Junior Alex was transferred to Holly Hill Junior as assistant principal and later became principal there. While at Holly Hill he was named "Principal of the Year" by Florida's Exceptional Student Education organization for his work to create an educational setting that included all students. Also at Holly Hill Alex was instrumental in getting community support to convert the fields at the school into a viable athletic center including a paved track football and baseball fields. The fields were later named in his honor by the Holly Hill Junior community. Alex ended his career as principal at Mainland Senior High School in 1986. In addition to years on the golf course Alex enjoyed fishing ballroom dancing with the "Nine O'Clockers" square dancing and card games of Canasta and Pinochle. He also enjoyed his dogs which were poodles most of the time. After retirement Mary and he traveled the country in their van getting to all 48 states over a period of ten years. Those were great years and in addition to the months on the road they enjoyed countless cruises which got them to Alaska and then finally a trip to Hawaii to cap off their goal of visiting all 50 states!
Alex was always a proud husband and father. His wife Mary retired from Sears and was always active in church. He is survived by Mary and their three children Colonel Michael Robertson of Fort Bliss Texas Dr. Karen Beattie (husband Bruce) of Daytona Beach and Matt Robertson of Holly Hill. He was predeceased by his siblings and three children Cathy Mark and Stephen. Additionally Alex has five grandchildren Katherine Goerner Elizabeth Robertson First Lieutenant Michael Robertson Jr. Second Lieutenant Benjamin Robertson and John Robertson; and three great-grandchildren Rodney Chase and Luke. Known as Uncle Tubby he is survived by many nieces nephews and their families both in Florida and Ohio. A memorial service will be held at Port Orange Presbyterian Church on Wednesday April 27 at 5 PM with the family receiving friends beginning at 4 PM. A reception will follow the service at home of Karen and Bruce Beattie directions to be provided at the church. Internment will take place in Newcomerstown Ohio at a later date.