Damon Frank Cabral Robinson, M.D., beloved husband, adoring father, proud son, talented golfer, private pilot, sailor, and anesthesiology-trained pain physician suddenly departed this life on October 9, 2024.
Born on March 30, 1974, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Damon was the only child of Sharon Robinson Goods and Howard L. Robinson.
Early in life Damon often amazed his teachers with his talent for disassembling and reassembling electronics and mechanical devices. At the age of 5, he received a portable radio kit for Christmas and surprised his mother by putting it together and tuning into his favorite station before bedtime.
Damon grew up in New York and attended the Harvey School. He enjoyed exploring nature, sailing in Long Island Sound, riding his bike and playing miniature golf in Pelham Bay Park.
An avid athlete from an early age, Damon enjoyed playing in the New Rochelle Youth Soccer League, little league baseball, lacrosse, and taking judo lessons. He was a dedicated Boy Scout and one of his favorite summer activities was attending the Scouts' sleep away camp.
His strong work ethic, commitment to excellence, and strong analytical skills earned him a scholarship to Fordham Preparatory High School in New York. Later, he transferred to Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC where -- as a 6'3" sophomore -- he played varsity basketball for his beloved Gonzaga Eagles.
After graduating from Gonzaga, Damon won a full academic scholarship to Hampton University, his home by the sea, where he majored in Chemistry. During his time at Hampton, Damon volunteered for the local fire department training as an emergency medical technician; thus, solidifying his interest in becoming a physician.
While attending Hampton, Damon leapt at every opportunity for adventure. He earned his private pilot's license and conducted research in both Tanzania and Venezuela. After graduation, he worked at Merck for one year as an organic chemist while preparing to take the MCAT.
Damon then earned a full scholarship to attend the George Washington University School of Medicine where his wanderlust took him to South Africa and Argentina to conduct research and to work in the local hospital. It was at GWU where he met fellow medical student, Tori Brown, who would become his best friend and life partner.
Upon graduation from GWU, he went on to the University of Maryland where he completed an internal medicine internship and a year of psychiatric residency. After some soul-searching, he realized that his true desire was to become an anesthesiologist with a specialization in pain management. He completed an anesthesiology residency and pain management fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston, Massachusetts.
In June 2004 Damon and Tori married, and from their union were blessed with three beautiful daughters: Mia Rose, Zoe Noelle, and Carli Rae.
Damon was a beloved pain physician in the Washington Metropolitan region where he was known for his ethics, judiciousness, and evidence-based care of his patients. He also enjoyed doing locum tenens anesthesiology work where he would travel as far away as Pennsylvania to care for patients. Damon was also proud to be an expert witness in a successful high-profile case in Colorado during the Black Lives Matter movement.
Damon was a visionary leader, working as Medical Director at the Holy Cross Hospital Pain Department, Medical Director of Pain Management at Precision Orthopedics, and Treasurer of Med Chi, the oldest African-American medical society in the world.
He shared his love of travel and adventure with his wife and children, sailing to the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. He would also fly his children to soccer games and on weekend field trips out of town. He enjoyed spending time outdoors: rocking in his rocking chair on the back porch during thunderstorms, meditating in Rock Creek Park, and biking the Capital Crescent Trail. He was also an enthusiastic health nut, staying up to date on the latest nutritional and exercise science.
Once he officially hung up his basketball jersey, he fell in love with the game of golf. He was gifted at gathering a few good men who did not initially know one another and over time developed a strong and supportive community. Two of the groups were officially known as the Good Trouble Foundation and The Usual Suspects.
Damon also used his creativity and analytical mind to transform his home into the "Halloween House" every October 31st. Hundreds of children would descend upon his home in Shepherd Park to find it shrouded in a smoky mist with a graveyard, flying witch, goblins and ghosts, pulsating to the beat of "Thriller". Damon and his friends took great pleasure in dressing up as various horror film characters, emerging from the dark to surprise the children with tricks prior to giving them treats.
Damon leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife, Tori; adoring daughters, Mia, Zoe, and Carli; mother, Sharon Robinson Goods; father, Howard L. Robinson; step-father, Andrew F. Goods; mother-in-law, LaVerne Brown; uncle, Ralph Robinson; aunt, Raymona Robinson; uncle, Raymond Robinson; a host of cousins, aunts, and uncles; and a bevy of golf buddies, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. He is predeceased by his father-in-law, Thomas W. Brown.