Sad News on Obama Family

A Quiet Force Behind the Scenes

Robinson’s influence on the family operated largely outside public view. She oversaw school schedules, family meals, and bedtime routines that allowed her granddaughters to experience childhood relatively removed from the pressures of presidential life. “Her presence allowed the family to remain emotionally connected to ordinary life even while occupying one of the most scrutinized positions in the world,” according to accounts of her role.