SHARI ZINGLE
Special to the Jewish News
INI
ost people give up their hobbies
as they age. Not Lucia Robiner.
Approaching her 80th birth-
day, Lucia decided she needed
something to occupy her time. After 10 quilt-
ing lessons, she had a new hobby.
In the past eight years, the petite, 88-year-
old great-grandmother has made 500 baby
quilts with different quilting groups. Some of
her creations were given to family and friends.
The rest were donated to hospitals and shelters.
However, now Lucia has a mission.
Last May, her 55-year-old daughter, Laura
Baldwin, died of a heart attack. Laura was a
speech therapist for Birmingham Public
Schools for almost 30 years, and according to
Lucia, was completely dedicated to children.
She also loved her mother's quilts.
In her grief, Lucia felt the need to pay trib-
ute to her daughter. Since Laura loved children
and loved the quilts, Lucia is honoring her
memory in two ways.
She is donating the quilts to organizations
for single mothers and she is attaching a special
label to each one: "In memory of Laura Robiner
Baldwin by Lucia Robiner."
Lucia feels strongly that her quilts should
go to needy children. "I know how hard
mothers have to
work to keep
their children
going," she said.
"Most of the
baby's things are
hand-me-downs
and I want them
to have some-
thing new and
cheerful."
And cheerful
her quilts are.
Traditionally,
quilting is done
with leftover
scraps of material
made into certain
patterns. Lucia
starts out with the
basic pattern and
11/10
2000
84
Lucia Robiner wit/ `some her'quilue
A woman labors to honor
her daughter's memory.
then adds her own spark of creativity. She also
uses only new materials, as she wants the chil-
dren to have something new.
Lucia is proud to point out that she likes to
break the quilting rules. She will tell you,
"Nobody told Picasso how to paint."
Karen Gordon Rosenberg is impressed with
Lucia's passion. She met her last year as a social
worker for Jewish Apartments and Services.
"Sometimes you meet someone who makes you
sit back and say, 'Wow!' I was so inspired by her
story and her motivation at this stage in her life."
A widow since 1981, Lucia lives by herself in
the Hechtman Jewish Apartments, on the
Applebaum Jewish Community Campus in West
Bloomfield. She and her husband of 46 years, Max
Robiner, lived in Detroit. He was an upholsterer
for Mary Baker Shea Interior Decorating. Lucia
stayed active over the years working for charitable
organizations and was president of the Detroit
chapter of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver.
She has another daughter, Gilda Shapiro, who
lives in West Bloomfield, and a son, Donald,
who lives in Cleveland. She's also the proud
"grandma" of six grandchildren and seven great-
grandchildren.
Lucia's health has slowed her down. Her walk-
ing is labored and she has been diagnosed with
an inoperable heart condition. But it is easy to be
energized and inspired by her passion. She talks
with a spirited intensity about honoring the
memory of her
daughter and donat-
ing her quilts. "It's
her lifeline to life,"
said neighbor
Margaret Parker.
Most afternoons
Lucia can be found
quilting at the same
table in the library
at Hechtman
Apartments. She
loves that people
stop and visit her
there.
And if you hap-
pen to see her, say
hello. She's the small, I
woman with the big
heart. ❑