Renee Soskin passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on Oct. 14, one week after her 91st birthday.
She was born in Corsica, South Dakota, on Oct. 7, 1934, to Harry and Augusta Gelfand, the youngest of two. Renee was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She lived by the mantra “attitude and gratitude,” exemplifying the power of a positive attitude and what it can achieve.
Renee’s perseverance carried her through the deaths of her beloved first husband of 25 years, Sidney Robinow; her beloved second husband of 22 years, Arnold Soskin; and her beloved partner, Stan Sweitzer. She is survived by her three sons, Jay Robinow, Douglas Robinow and Bennett Robinow; two daughters-in-law, Marjorie Robinow and Amy Robinow; five grandchildren, Hannah Robinow, Joseph Robinow (Naomi), Aaron Robinow (Calyn) and David (Simona) Robinow; and two great-granddaughters, Rosie Robinow and Milou Robinow.
Known to many as “The Velvet Hammer,” Renee’s energetic and can-do spirit began at a very young age. She was a cheerleader in high school, won the Daughters of the American Revolution college scholarship and worked in her family’s store, where she developed her keen knack for business.
Renee attended the University of Minnesota, where she met her husband, Sidney Robinow. They married in 1955 and soon after began an adventure together in Zurich, Switzerland, where Sidney attended medical school and they had their first son, Jay. Upon returning to the States, Renee and Sidney had their second and third sons, Doug and Bennett, before finally settling down in Des Moines, Iowa, where Sidney began his surgical practice.
Bennett was born with significant mental handicaps, and Renee responded, in her usual way, with vision and action. She founded a unique special education center, the Prescribed Activity Center, for Bennett and other similarly disabled children, and later developed the Shalom Home, a group home for handicapped Jewish adults, ensuring that Bennett and others like him would have a dignified place to live.
Never one to sit still, Renee also became active in the Chamber of Commerce, creating programming for convention attendees and their spouses. After the sudden passing of Sidney at the age of 52, Renee responded with courage and determination and built her own business, Des Moines Tour and Convention Services, in order to support her family.
In time, Renee found love again with her second husband, Arnold Soskin, and together they shared a rich and active life. They became “snowbirds,” splitting their time between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Key Biscayne, Florida, and enjoyed drinking Arnold Palmers, playing tennis, attending the ballet and many happy moments until his passing in 2008. Later, she found companionship and joy with Stan Sweitzer, with whom she shared her life until his passing in 2012.
Throughout all of life’s changes, Renee’s family remained at the center of her world. She was a devoted mother and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. She was also a keen investor, a lover of art, and she always appreciated “the three C’s: Cookies, Candy and Carbs.” She was someone who believed deeply in showing up — for people, for causes and for life itself.
Even as she faced significant challenges throughout her life, Renee continued to meet each day with a positive spirit. She never stopped dressing for the occasion, celebrating milestones or staying engaged with her family and friends. She joyfully celebrated her 91st birthday, still looking forward to more moments with those she loved.
Renee’s life was defined not by its hardships but by its celebrations, adventures and deep connections. She built communities, nurtured relationships and met life with elegance and resolve. May her memory be a blessing, and her spirit of hard work and compassion be an inspiration to all who knew her.
Burial was in Des Moine, Iowa, followed by a shiva at the Robinows’ in Overland Park, Kansas.