Louis Mervyn (Lou) Robinson

Dear Sandra and girls I have just read of Lous passing.l still remember the big hug he gave me at Steve's funeral. The advice he gave us when renovating Blacks Hotel at Ophir was really appreciated and very professional. The times we spent as cribbies at Ophir were magic and we loved catching up with you guys. And you inherited our little caravan for the grandchildren. And through the years to support Lou in my role as a nurse. Love and massive hugs to you all Annie Chapman

Such sad news. Lou was very special company and such a wise and thoughtful engineer. He was nationally appreciated. A big loss to both the engineering and architectural professions.

To Lou's Family and the people who worked for him we extend to you all our sincere sympathy. Lou was very kind to us when we were trying to sell our building in Oamaru and we will not forget that. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Dear Sandra and Family So sorry to hear the passing of Lou. Please accept my deepest condolences 💐

Dear Sandra and Family, With great sadness I leaned that Lou passed away on Sunday! Thinking of you and your Family! Lou was a Very Good Engineer! But also a friend, and not only his great work! His care of heritage, and his kind guidance and wisdom within building matters. His compassion and insights, when working with Lou is much cherished! Lou's wonderful character and presence I will always hold special. Edwin Elliott Queenstown

Dear Sandra. Words cannot express the sadness I feel for you and your family. I watched and listened to the beautiful tributes for Lou : a truly amazing man, husband, dad and granddad. I was very moved by family and our grandson Freddy carrying away his dear Grandad Robo. He will be sorely missed. With all my affection. Martine

Dearest Sandra My thoughts are with you and your family. Love Karlina

Lou Robinson - a true legend in the industry. Always a huge presence in the room - you inspired confidence for the project, while also offering wisdom and encouragement to benefit for all built works. I enjoyed and valued the opportunity to work with you, Lou, on some special buildings around Otago ( built & unbuilt) and i know that this feeling was shared by everyone involved in these projects at all levels - if walls could talk, thousands would be be tipping their caps (metaphorically!) Thank you Lou - Thinking of you, and your family at this time, and ongoing Hamish Muir Mason&Wales

Shona and I are saddened to hear that Lou has past-away. Sandra, family & Whanau, please accept my condolences for your loss at this sad time. I have been in the construction industry since leaving school in 1970 and first met Lou around 1980. I have been involved in many projects, some are iconic, others significant in construction in the Dunedin area, with Lou up until my retirement in 2020. Lou was very knowledgeable and a real gentleman. Any advise that Lou offered me was always very good, well received and and stayed with me. As a consulting engineer he will be missed. Rest in peace, Lou.

Dear Sandra Pip and I are so sorry to hear of Lou’s passing. He was a great man in so many ways, and I know how close to and proud of him you were, and what an honour it was for the rest of us to have known him. We know that the girls and family will be finding it very tough too, and also know they will be giving you loving support. With kindest wishes, Mark & Pip Tyrrell Mark and Pip Tyrrell

Dear Sandra, Miranda, Genevieve and families We are so sad that you lost your lovely lovely Lou, your hearts will be breaking at this difficult time We had great days in Hunt st with you all when the children were all little, and i just loved gardening while Lou played the piano , often in his lunch times and Fur Elise would come floating across the street, i love it still when i hear it always think of Lou He was a man of faith and integrity , a great Rotarian and i know he did much work for Historic Places, I do hope he has someone to take his place that has his caring for the historic buildings in and around Dunedin All our lives are better for having had Lou in them in some small way People like Lou are greatly needed in our community Our hearts are with you all as you lay your beloved Partner, Dad and Grandad to rest Love Lesly and Graham Stewart

When Lou first left home, he was approximately 16 and I was about 7. I cried because I couldn't understand why he went away to train as a brother, because in my eyes, he already was my brother! During his vacation breaks back to our Invercargill based family home Lou taught me chess. He also represented our family as an audience member when I played a classical piece of music on a grand piano for the first time on stage in public in the school aged children's music competitions where I was runner up. He was very proud of me and told me that he was. In recent times my grandson Reid telephoned me and shared that he won the Chess Competition for Auckland Secondary Schools on the North Shore and he thanked me because I taught him how to play chess. I immediately telephoned Lou and told him this news and told him the reason why I shared it with him was because he taught me. Of course, Lou was delighted and gave one of his infectious giggles. Although there were 9 years between us and with him leaving home so young and long ago, it has been in the last 15+ years that I've become to know my dear brother better. Our shared appreciation for piano classical music, chess, passion for heritage buildings, red wine, the peace and tranquility of Ophir, Central Otago are just a few things in common. Our brother Wayne when visiting the hospital told Lou that I was flying from New Plymouth to Dunedin to see him. The feeling I had when I walked into his hospital room was that Lou was waiting for me. It was a small window of opportunity to say our final goodbyes to each other. We held hands and when I gave him a hug on behalf of our sister Elizabeth (Liz) too who could not travel from Australia, that hug meant a lot to him. I am and always will be very proud of Lou. He has left behind not only a loving and fabulous wife Sandra, two wonderful and talented daughters in Miranda and Genevieve and three dear grandchildren, Audrey, Fergus and Freddy including your siblings, Elizabeth (Liz), Wayne, Collette and me including nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews in NZ and Australia, ... you've also left a legacy NZ wide of new and saved heritage buildings, bridges and more from throughout your successful and long career as a Civil, Structural Engineer. My brother Lou not only taught me the game of chess, but he also showed me how it's done ... to live life and to die with dignity. God Speed dear brother and rest in peace.