‘He was always trying to keep the peace.’

When the Robinson family gathers for its annual New Year’s celebration, there will be one person missing: Larry Robinson, Sr. His absence will be a clear reminder that they will no longer watch him make his customary grand entrance — usually later than the designated time — and declare: “Larry’s in the house.” Nor will they be able to laugh along with him when he rattles off his famous slogan: “Do you know who I am? I’m Larry Robinson, Sr.”

“Not having him around is very difficult, especially now with the holidays,” says Isaac Robinson, one of Larry’s 12 siblings. “We are a really close family. And he was a very big part of my life. I either spoke to him or saw him every day,” states Isaac, who is only 14 months older than Larry.

By all accounts, Robinson was a jovial, friendly, fun-loving person, who got along with everyone.

“Larry always had something nice to say about everybody,” says Robinson’s youngest brother, Alvin Robinson.

“My dad was a very kind and giving person. He was the kind of person who always wanted to help others. If you needed anything, and he had it, it was yours,” states Robinson’s 26-year-old son, Larry Robinson, Jr.

“Larry was the type of person who didn’t like to see anyone suffering or in need. And if he could stop or prevent a fight from happening, he would,” states Isaac. It was Robinson’s concern for others that led to his death.

Robinson was gunned down July 12, 2009, in front of his home on the 2100 block of Adams Street while attempting to break up a fight involving his teenage son and a neighborhood teen. His alleged killer, Deborah Hickman, was the grandmother of the other teen involved in the fight. According to reports, Hickman approached the scene, where more than 20 people gathered as they watched the boys fight. She allegedly fired into the crowd, hitting Robinson in the head.

“My dad did not like to be around any negativity,” said Larry, Jr., who lived next door to his father. “He was always the one trying to keep the peace. That’s what makes his death so tragic. He lost his life trying to do what was right.”

Robinson was born in Caruthersville, Mo., in 1961. The Robinson family moved to Springfield in 1969 when he was 7 years old. Isaac laughs as he recalls the mischief that he and Larry got into as children.

“When we were about 4 or 5 years old, we told the neighbors that our mom needed some matches. We took the matches and set a farm field on fire. We used to break things around the house or eat up things and blame our two older sisters. We were able to get away with it because we were so young and our parents thought that we were too small to do these things.”

Family members affectionately referred to Larry Robinson as the “minute man,“ says Alvin and Isaac. “He was very energetic, and was always moving around. When he came by to visit, he would only stay for a few minutes,” explains Alvin. “He’d leave his car running, and would always say that he didn’t want to wear out his welcome,” laughs Isaac.

Robinson had a passion for cars and traveling. “Traveling and hanging out with my dad are some of my best memories,” says Larry, Jr., recalling a trip to St. Louis with his dad last May when the two toured the arch. “We were making plans to go to Las Vegas and the Bahamas.”

As the family struggles to make it through the holidays without Robinson, Larry, Jr., who was present when his father was shot, is trying to cope with the image of seeing his dad “lying in the street with a bullet hole in his head.”

Larry, Jr: “It’s hard to get that image out of my mind. It still just seems so surreal. I’m still trying to collect my thoughts and bounce back.”

Robinson’s family awaits Hickman’s trial, which is scheduled to begin March 28 — the second anniversary of the death of Robinson’s mother. They hope that the trial answers the question: Why?

“I just want to know why she took my brother’s life. What did he do to deserve her shooting him in the head?” asks Alvin.

“I’d like to know what she was thinking,” says Larry, Jr., who recently had a picture of his dad tattooed on his arm. “Why would she come out and arbitrarily shoot into a crowd over a fight between kids?” Regardless of the outcome of the trial, Isaac says that no one wins. “Both families lose. I lost a brother, and she sits in jail.”

—Jolonda Young