Rocketry Planet

PORT ORANGE, Florida USA — Paul Joseph Robinson, Jr., co-owner of AMW Pro-X Distributors, co-founder of Kosdon East/Animal Motor Works, OuR Project principal team member, friend of many died Saturday morning in Florida following a brief illness brought on by pancreatic cancer.

Paul Robinson enjoying himself at a NEFAR launch located in Bunnell, Florida, July 2008. Photo: Darrell D. Mobley

Robinson's OuR Project, an R27000 amateur rocket roars off the Black Rock Desert in 1996. Photo: High Power Rocketry magazine, Vol. 12 No. 5-6, June/July 1997.

Robinson is seen here with OuR Project team members at ground zero of the rocket's impact point, including Frank Kosdon, Robinson, Ken Mizoi, Jim Rosson and Phil Prior. Photo: High Power Rocketry magazine, Vol. 12 No. 5-6, June/July 1997.

Robinson was always known as the bright smile around launch sites across the nation, bringing his unique humor and perky attitude to everyone he met. 

Best known for bringing a kaleidoscope of brilliant color-producing propellants to hobby rocketry, Robinson was a pleasure to be around and usually could be found cutting up with individuals up and down the flight line.  While Robinson didn't invent the sparky motor, he is probably the most widely known proponent of the technology for his spark shower-emitting Skidmark motors flown everywhere today.

Robinson's relationship with Frank Kosdon during the 90's equipped Paul with the determination to bring hobby rocketry enthusiasts a larger selection of motors and manifested itself with the creation of Kosdon East, a company built initially to serve the eastern United States.  Kosdon East went on to become Animal Motor Works, named after the brilliant colors of the exhaust of their rocket motors.

One of Robinson's great accomplishments was the OuR Project, an enthusiastic project to say the least, which loaded a 10.5" diameter motor with nearly 300 pounds of propellant for an assault on the skies above the Black Rock Desert in 1996 by Robinson and other team members Frank Kosdon, Phil Prior, Jim Rosson and Ken Mizoi. The R27000 motor propelled a 21 foot long all-aluminum rocket that weighed nearly 700 pounds, which took to the skies on August 16, 1996, and most likely exceeded 100,000 feet in altitude.

The son of a World War II naval veteran, Robinson was brought up in the northeastern corner of the country, residing there most recently in Pelham, New Hampshire, before relocating to northeast Florida in 2007 to focus on the reinvention of his high power rocketry motor manufacturing business.

In the late summer of 2007, Robinson and Anthony Cesaroni, owner of Cesaroni Technology, Incorporated, announced to the rocketry community their plans for a marketing and production merger that would bring state-of-the-art product production to Robinson's company while allowing for Cesaroni to expand CTI's product line with the trademark rainbow of AMW colors.

Robert DeHate, Robinson's partner in AMW Pro-X Distributors, has committed to carrying Robinson's vision forward after this untimely event and will post an announcement on the company's website soon.

The last major launch Robinson was able to attend was LDRS28 in Potter, New York. Afterward, Paul went to stay with his sister, Gloria Woodman, in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he spent many of his final days under her loving care. Ms. Woodman has expressed an interest holding a small service at the next LDRS in memory of Paul, perhaps even launching some of the ashes there.

Cards and condolences should be sent to his sister at:

Gloria Woodman
11 Rocky Hill Drive
Nashua, NH 03062

Services will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12 noon at:

Halifax Hospice of Volusia Flagler Chapel
3800 Woodbriar Trail,
Port Orange, Florida 32129

A gathering will follow at a nearby Olive Garden. 

Paul Robinson was 58 years old.

Reader comments:

#1 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

I am proud to say Paul Robinson was my friend. Everyone, light a Skidmark for him.

Godspeed, friend.

ddmobley on 10-11-2009 04:30 PM

#2 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

Quote:

I am proud to say Paul Robinson was my friend. Everyone, light a Skidmark for him.

Godspeed, friend.

To Darrell and all the folks that Paul befriended, I am sorry for your loss. I wish I had known him.

Steve_Shannon on 10-11-2009 04:59 PM

#3 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

Oh man, this is absolutely terrible news.

I too wish I could have met him, almost had a chance at a Tripoli Tampa (TTRA) launch in June but he wasn't there.

I will surely be thinking of him the very next time I light up a Skid.

RIP Paul - fly high and in peace.

Donaldsrockets on 10-11-2009 05:03 PM

#4 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

Bummer.
I met Paul at LDRS 25. I had purchased what was supposed to be an AMW 54-1750 case on an auction. Turned out it was not. He said it was made from some of their tubing but the snap ring grooves were cut incorrectly and it would probably fail if used. I was pretty disappointed and figured I had just paid more tuition to the school of hard knocks. Paul took the case and replaced it with a new one. He didn't need to do that but he did. To say the least I was very impressed.

He will certainly be missed.

Fly high Paul.

ddmobley When I get to a field where I can fly a Skidmark I certainly intend to.

Sailorbill on 10-11-2009 05:09 PM

#5 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

My thoughts are with Paul's family, I will surly fly an AMW load in Paul's memory, RIP Paul...

GaryT on 10-11-2009 05:14 PM

#6 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

There aren't many with such fiery dedication to the sport. Hobby rocketry has lost one of her passionate advocates.

Godspeed, Paul.

daveyfire on 10-11-2009 05:25 PM

#7 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

R.I.P. my friend. S.M.I.L.E.

Your contribution to our sport, in the form of persona and innovation, will be remembered as long as any of us who knew you, continue on with your memory.
Rocketry in general has suffered a great loss .........as well as all who were touched by his warmth.

blackjack2564 on 10-11-2009 06:12 PM

#8 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

Bracha and I are deeply saddened by Paul's passing. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.

The first time I met Paul, he handed me a free J motor reload. Of course, I liked him right away.

Over the years, we've looked forward to seeing Paul at the NEFAR launches each month. He was always outgoing and friendly.

I recall him discussing propellant stuff with Jim of Gorilla Motors. I'm sure Paul wasn't giving away any real trade secrets, but he seemed willing to share his expertise even with a competitor. I admired that. He helped me many times with stuck nozzles, o-ring problems, and other things that were mostly caused by my own ineptness. He even replaced a reload and motor casing for me after the failure of a CTI reload that was not AMW's (or CTI's) responsibility.

The last time we saw Paul was a few months ago at the NEFAR launch. It was incredibly hot that day. All of us were showing the effects of the heat. But, Paul especially didn't look well. A short time after that weekend, he called to tell us the bad news.

We know there were many of you that were closer to Paul than us, but we've lost a friend.

-- Roger

jadebox on 10-11-2009 06:31 PM

#9 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

I only met Paul twice in my journey's to the US. Each time he remembered who I was, a fact I found remarkable since I was only one of the many faces he would have encountered at launches.

Truly a passionate and remarkable gentleman, who will be sadly missed by many.

Godspeed Paul.

We will most certainly light a "Sparky" for you downunder.

Scoop1261 on 10-11-2009 07:17 PM

#10 Re: Article: AMW Pro-X co-owner Paul Robinson dies at the age of 58

Paul was a friend, never to busy to answer a phone call answer an email or just sit around an BS. He was a good person and we shared to few laughs together. I will miss him. My heart felt sympathy to his family and his many close friends.

Fred

frederocket on 10-11-2009 07:39 PM

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