Members of the Jamaica Olympic Association form a guard of honour as the remains of sports physiotherapist Elizabeth Robinson are carried out of the St Andrew Parish Church by family members including her brother Robert Baugh (left) and son Damian Robinson (right). (Photo: Karl McLarty)

Members of Jamaica's sporting community turned out in droves to the St Andrew Parish Church in Half-Way-Tree yesterday to bid farewell to sports physiotherapist Valerie Elizabeth Robinson, who worked with athletes in almost every sport Jamaicans compete in.

Robinson, affectionately called 'Miss Rob', 'Auntie Lizzie', 'Bizzylizzy' and 'the physio-terrorist' by friends, family and patients, died on February 4 after a brief illness. She was 57.

Eulogised as "the ultimate care-giver" by her brother-in-law Robert Robinson, Liz was remembered as a vivacious, unselfish human being whose passion for life and her profession influenced the lives and careers of everyone she encountered.

For many years, she provided services to innumerable Jamaican athletes locally and internationally, giving both physical and emotional therapy to athletes, and even becoming named an 'Honorary Olympian' by the Jamaica Olympic Association for working with teams representing Jamaica in three Summer Olympic Games.

Among the organisations she worked with were the Jamaica Volleyball, Squash and Badminton associations, Tennis Jamaica, the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association, the Jamaica Basketball Association, the Jamaica Football Federation, the Jamaica Cricket Association and the Jamaica Association of Sports Medicine, of which she was a founding member in 1979.

"There is no sport in Jamaica that did not feel the hands of Auntie Lizzie. she touched so many people in her lifetime," her brother-in-law said before a congregation dotted with the characteristic bright yellow and green blazers of the various national teams.

Robinson's work in physiotherapy was not restricted to sports, as in her early days of practice she worked with the Mona Rehabilitation Centre and later with Special Olympics Jamaica as a member of the Board of Directors, the Games Committee and the Medical Committee. She was also a founder of the Sickle Cell Trust, a non-profit organisation and support group formed to improve services available for patients living with Sickle Cell Disease.

Robinson was also remembered by her son Damian, who described her energy and unselfish persona glowingly, speaking on behalf of "all her children".

"Many of you only know of myself and Toni, but she had many children. (she was) the mother that adopted the world, and in so doing made the world a better place," he said.

Some of 'Miss Rob's children' present were track and field Olympians Brigitte Foster, Grace Jackson, Kathy Rattray-Williams and Jermaine Gonzales, as well as Jamaican cricketers Jermaine Lawson and Gareth Breese. Also in attendance were past and present JAAA presidents Neville
"Teddy" McCook and Howard Aries, JOA president Mike Fennell, former general secretary of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association Freddy Green, her cousin and recently-appointed opposition leader Dr Kenneth Baugh, and sports minister Portia Simpson Miller.

A guard of honour was formed outside the church by doctors and nurses of the Medical Associates Hospital, where Liz practised.

She is survived by children Damian and Toni, mother Sybil and siblings Robbie and Marie.

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