SARATOGA SPRINGS — On his 99th birthday this year, Dad enjoyed Wellfleet oysters and a homemade Boston Crème Pie baked by Nancy at Susan and Brian’s home in Saratoga Springs. He loved his family, good company, good food, and New York State.
John Wallace Robertson passed away on February 27, 2022. He was born on January 14, 1923 to Wally and Kathryn Robertson in North Tonawanda. He grew up with his sisters Nancy and Suzanne and many fun-loving cousins. He spent his childhood in western New York, graduating from Jamestown High School in 1941. Jack began his advanced studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor but soon enlisted in the Army Air Corp and assisted in the development of the Norden Mk. XV bombsight used during World War ll. After the war, he returned to Ann Arbor and completed his studies in architecture, graduating in 1951. There he met Joyce Parker from Salisbury, NC. They married and moved to Syracuse where they raised four daughters during the sixties and seventies; Gina, Kay, Nancy, and Susan. His grandson Royce spent many happy days with his Gaggie.
Jack was self-employed most of his career as an architect. He partnered with Dave Richards to create Robertson & Richards. He then transitioned to Robertson Strong Apgar, currently located at 1054 James Street as RSA Architects in Syracuse. He primarily designed and renovated commercial buildings; schools in the Liverpool and Massena districts; public safety buildings, Austin McCormick Center for Youth, and Hillbrook Detention Center.
Jack was a fine architect and highly respected among his peers. He taught architecture at Syracuse University and after 40 successful years in business retired from RSA in 1995.
Jack was active in many professional and community organizations, including local and national chapters of the American Institute of Architects and the Construction Specifications Institute. He served as president of the Onondaga County Public Library, the Dewitt Community Library and the Dewitt
Kiwanis Club.
Jack believed deeply in family, friendship, community, and education. He is remembered for quietly sharing his love of books, cooking, pickling, gardening, art, and poker well into his 90s. Friends and family will surely remember him sailing on one of his boats in his floppy white hat with full sails, blue skies, not too rough waters on Lake St. Clair, Lake Ontario, Cape Cod, and the seas around New Zealand.
Dad is survived by Joyce, his wife of 70 years, his four daughters and son-in-law Brian Rodems, his grandchildren John, Elizabeth, Thomas, Lee, Royce and his wife Christy and great- granddaughter Leah. Uncle Jack will be missed by his nieces and nephews: Debbie, Tom, Dick, Margaret, Linda and Kathy, John, Beverly and Barbie along with their families. He knew how to draw an early morning crowd of cousins with a box of fresh donuts and a smile. We love you Dad.
A private burial with military honors at The Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery will be held at a future date.
