Timothy D. Robson gave 37 years of distinguished service to Case Western Reserve University. Over the years, Robson was music librarian for the Kulas Music Library, head of cataloging and associate director of Kelvin Smith Library, from which he retired in 2017.
Robson died March 15 of a cerebral hemorrhage following a brief illness.
Raised on his family’s farm in Scranton, Iowa, Robson earned a Bachelor of Arts in church music from Drake University in Des Moines; and a Master of Arts in Music History and Master of Library Science from Case Western Reserve University.
Robson was director of music at Euclid Avenue Congregational Church (EACC) in Cleveland for 27 years, playing weekly services on the organ, directing the Chancel Choir, and managing and often performing on a weekly noonday recital series.
Following his retirement from EACC, he served as interim director of music at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights and worked as a freelance organist. He was a gifted choir director and coach, and was music director of the North Coast Men’s Chorus for four years. He also played recitals at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Church of the Covenant and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, among many others.
Robson also wrote music criticism for Cleveland Classical and Bachtrack (London) and was dean of the Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He edited the chapter’s newsletter for many years.
He is survived by his partner of 40 years, George Barnum. They were married on Feb. 19, 2022, and Robson took great joy in introducing his husband, saying, “After 40 years, it was time to try something new.”
Robson is also survived by his brother, Allen Robson (Cheryl), sister, Martha Pierce (Joseph), and five nieces, as well as a wide circle of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Robson’s memory may be made to the music program at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Bay Village, Ohio.