Rachel Robinson
, Rachel Robinson (third from left) on March 2, 2005, accepting the Congressional Gold Medal for her husband from President George W. Bush
Born
Rachel Annetta Isum, (1922-07-19) July 19, 1922 (age 90), Los Angeles, California, United States
Spouse(s)
Jackie Robinson (m.1946-1972; his death)
Children
Jackie Robinson Jr.,
Sharon Robinson,
David Robinson
Rachel Robinson (born Rachel Annetta Isum; July 19, 1922) is a former nurse and the widow of baseball player Jackie Robinson. She was born in Los Angeles, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles. There, she met Jackie in 1941, and they married in 1946. Their son, Jackie Robinson, Jr., was born in November 1946. The Robinsons would later have a daughter, Sharon, and another son, David.
After Jackie Robinson's retirement from baseball, Rachel Robinson pursued her nursing career, eventually becoming an Assistant Professor at Yale School of Nursing and later, the Director of Nursing at the Connecticut Mental Health Center.
In 1973, after Jackie died, Rachel founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation. In 2009, she received the UCLA Medal from Chancellor Gene Block for her lifetime achievements. The UCLA Medal is the university's highest honor and was created to "honor those individuals who have made extraordinary and distinguished contributions to their professions, to higher education, to our society, and to the people of UCLA."
In 2007, she was awarded the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award by Commissioner Bud Selig.
She currently resides on a 60-acre (240,000 m) farm in Salem, Connecticut.
Robinson was portrayed by Nicole Beharie in the film 42.
