Robin Williams
What keeps volunteer Robin Williams laughing for more than 18 Years?
When Robin Williams walks through the doors at Luther Burbank Center, she could have any one of a bounty of volunteer roles awaiting her, but the one thing that stays constant with all of them is a good laugh. That mirth has become a vital spirit booster in these isolating times. “When I first started, it was a new adventure,” she recalls. “As time went by, I came to realize how much I love being involved with the public. People are so happy when they come here, and I find myself laughing a lot with them.”
If there’s a secret to retirement, it must be laughter because after more than three decades in the high-tech world, this fifth generation native Californian has spent the last 18 years as a dedicated and active volunteer here. Currently, Robin is a member of LBC’s Volunteer Advisory Committee, which advocates on behalf of volunteers. She also is a member of the Ambassador group, which connects long-time and emeritus volunteers with evolving programs. Over the years, Robin has helped with clubs, concessions, ushering at main events and schools shows, ticket scanning, and the water station, and she continues to go wherever she is called. “There is absolutely nothing Robin won’t help with,” said Front of House and Volunteer Manager Betsy Boes. “If I ever have a need, I can call her, and she jumps in at any time.”
Make no mistake, it’s not just good times that devote Robin to LBC. She is quick to applaud the generosity of respect that volunteers receive for their efforts. “LBC never fails to show us their gratitude. Betsy is happy to listen to our ideas and concerns, and that makes the work meaningful to me.”
Robin was raised in San Jose and Campbell, where she learned the work ethic that makes her such a valuable volunteer. “When I was a kid, I did a lot of jobs. I cleaned eggs and picked prunes. I was always working.” Robin and her late husband both worked at Hewlett Packard/Agilent in Silicon Valley. In 1973, they were transferred to Santa Rosa, where they raised their three children. Robin was working in supervision for Agilent’s modular measurement systems when she retired after 36 years. That’s when she looked around her community and found her new callling. “I saw so much need out there. People are struggling, and I could be useful to them.” Robin focused her volunteerism on organizations that support underserved populations in Sonoma County, including the food bank, Valley of the Moon Children’s Center, the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, and Canine Companions – in addition to LBC.
When LBC started calling back its volunteers after more than a year of Covid-cancelled live programming, Robin was reminded how rewarding the Center has been to her life. “It can get you down, being locked up and isolated,” she said. “Being able to go to the Center, a place where I am needed and can help, is meaningful to me. It also gets me thinking about other things in the world. I enjoy seeing the other volunteers and having so many people to laugh with again.”
