Wendell Alan Robertson

Wendell Alan “Alan” Robertson, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away Sunday, December 13 at Kingston Residence of Perrysburg, after battling Parkinson’s disease for numerous years. Known to many as “Big Al”, Alan amassed a great community of loving friends during his more than 50 years as a resident of Sylvania Township and professional servicing Northwest Ohio. In reflecting on his life, some common remembrances amongst his friends and family spoke to his professional integrity and trustworthiness, loyalty and kind consideration towards friends, service above self, and most often, that he was a true gentleman who loved his family. Alan Robertson was born the only child of Aldrich and Edith (Cavalear) Robertson in Jackson, Michigan on January 9, 1940. As a youth, he excelled at academics, showed the leadership skills that he would carry throughout his life, and developed a life-long love of physical fitness. An honor roll student, president of his class, and captain of his high school golf team, Alan graduated from Jackson High School in 1958. Alan attended Albion College, where, unbeknownst to many, he studied to become a pharmacist. A devoted member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, he held many positions, but most often joked about being the Frisbee champion. It was during his time at Albion – in 1960 - that Alan met the love of his life, a sophomore named Marian “Midge” Taup. The two were married in 1963. They first lived in Ann Arbor, where Alan finished up his education, receiving his pharmaceutical degree from the University of Michigan. After a short stint in West Michigan (Benton Harbor and Muskegon), Alan jumped on an opportunity to move to Toledo to help own and manage a small chain of pharmacies. After two years, guided by changes in the industry (he loved compounding medicine, which was becoming an outdated practice), Alan made a career change that would last the rest of his life and began his professional legacy in Northwest Ohio. After passing with the highest brokerage exam score in the State of Ohio at the time, Alan was integral in the formation of Cavalear Realty in 1967. Over the next 40+ years, Alan would go on to earn professional accolades rarely achieved in his industry (he's best remembered as an agent of Danberry Realtors) as well as establish himself as a caring citizen through his high level of community involvement. He held CRB, CRS and GRI designations and was a Lifetime Member of the Northwest Ohio Realtors and Ohio Realtors Million Dollar Clubs. Additionally, he was the only two-time recipient of Toledo Board of Realtor’s Realtor of the Year award, 1993 Toledo Board of Realtor’s Realtor Citizen of the Year, a recipient of the Ohio Association of Realtors prestigious Award of Excellence, and the 2012 Distinguished Service Award Recipient. Alan was involved with the University of Michigan, Boys and Girls Club of Toledo, Toledo Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Sylvania Board of Zoning Appeals, United Way, Swan Creek Retirement Village (Chairman of the Board), Valentine Theatre Restoration, several school levies, and was a founder and co-chairman of the Toledo Board of Realtors Scholarship. He was also active member of the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Zoo, COSI, Toledo Botanical Gardens, and the Toledo Museum of Art. He was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years, where he held planning committee positions and was an elder and a deacon. While Alan was highly successful as a professional, he was a family man at his core. His family remembers him as the thrifty, loving guy who polished his shoes, never needing a new pair (always had them resoled at Macino’s), ate the scraps off of the kids’ plates each night before washing them, wouldn’t let Midge donate a “perfectly good pair of pants” (the green corduroys with mallard ducks), was always eager to share orange slice candies with the kids, and somehow only needed a 15 minute “nap” when he got home from work (he always set the timer and oftentimes laid on the floor), before continuing to work well into the evening. He is also remembered as a father figure to two of his grandchildren, both of who lost their fathers at a young age. Alan led by example. He loved Michigan athletics and cherished the time he spent with friends and family attending games (tailgating on the golf course or zooming up to Crisler Arena on a weeknight just in time for tip off). He was a helluva card player, spending many hours playing cards at The Toledo Club and Inverness Club. He had a deep passion for golfing, which he did as often as possible. He recently recounted his hole-in-one on hole #12 at Inverness. Alan is survived by his loving wife Midge; children, Brett (Amanda), Blayne, Lindsey, and Jed (Lynn); grandchildren, Cody, Evelyn, Isaac, Jamie, Kathryn, and Aldrich. All of who wish to extend their love and thanks to the staff of Kingston Residence of Perrysburg and Hospice of Northwest Ohio and to all of their friends and family that have supported them during this difficult time. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations to the Toledo Regional Association of Realtors Scholarship Fund at The Greater Toledo Community Foundation, located at 300 Madison Avenue, Suite 1300 / Toledo, OH 43604 (toledocf.org) or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, located at 30000. E River Rd, Perrysburg, OH 43551 (hospicenwo.org). Funeral services and burial will be private.