Burlington, VT Free Press

Robin Ann (Fisher) Shawlinski, age 40, of Fort Belvoir, Va., passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 10, 2008, after a 10-month battle with cancer. She was born in Burlington, VT in 1968, and attended St. Joseph Elementary and Rice Memorial High School. She earned her degree in Journalism at Castleton College. Later she enlisted in the United States Army and was a journalist for 8 years for several U.S. Army newspapers while stationed at Newport News, Va.; Panama and Ft Benning, Ga. Robin is survived by her loving husband, SGM Robert Shawlinski, and children Sean, age 13, Rachel, age 11 and Shane, age 7. She leaves her parents, John and Kathleen (Desany) Fisher of Burlington; her sisters, brothers and spouses, Suzanne and LTC John Boyd of Huntington, Lynn and Jason Smiley of Milton, John and Nicole (Gendreau) Fisher of Waterbury, WO1 Eric Fisher of Colchester, Elizabeth and Brett Tyler of Eagle Mountain,
Utah, and James Fisher and fiancée Erin Carlson of Burlington; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Robin is survived by her mother-in-law, Kathleen Shawlinski of East Brunswick, N.J.; and her brothers-in-law and spouses, Scott and Hope Shawlinski, and David and
Barbara Shawlinski of Toms River, N.J.; and aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father-in-law Frederic Shawlinski of Little Ferry, N.J. Robin married her husband Robert Shawlinski on Sept. 8, 1994, and they served and lived at many Army installations including
Panama, Fort Benning, Ga.; West Point, N.Y.; Tacoma, Wash.; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas and the U.S. Army HRC; Alexandria, Va. Robin always approached life with gusto and in her own way. She wasn't afraid to rock the boat when necessary – to stand up for her convictions and defend what she thought
was right. She had a lot of strength and fight in her to handle the obstacles that were thrown her way. At the same time, you would find that she also had a love to share with her family and friends. She applied both her strength and love to steering her family through the rigors of military life. In March 2007, the Sustainment Command at Schofield Barracks Hawaii awarded the Dr. Mary E. Walker Award to Robin for demonstrating dedicated and exemplary volunteerism as an outstanding military spouse, improving the quality of life for soldiers and their families. During the past year she was an active member of the U.S. Army
Sergeants Major Academy "Class of 58" wives group at Ft. Bliss. Even during her cancer treatments she continued to participate in the classes and social events with the group. Interment will be at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia on Oct. 22.

Burlington, VT Free Press

Robin Ann (Fisher) Shawlinski, age 40, of Fort Belvoir, Va., passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 10, 2008, after a 10-month battle with cancer. She was born in Burlington, VT in 1968, and attended St. Joseph Elementary and Rice Memorial High School. She earned her degree in Journalism at Castleton College. Later she enlisted in the United States Army and was a journalist for 8 years for several U.S. Army newspapers while stationed at Newport News, Va.; Panama and Ft Benning, Ga. Robin is survived by her loving husband, SGM Robert Shawlinski, and children Sean, age 13, Rachel, age 11 and Shane, age 7. She leaves her parents, John and Kathleen (Desany) Fisher of Burlington; her sisters, brothers and spouses, Suzanne and LTC John Boyd of Huntington, Lynn and Jason Smiley of Milton, John and Nicole (Gendreau) Fisher of Waterbury, WO1 Eric Fisher of Colchester, Elizabeth and Brett Tyler of Eagle Mountain,
Utah, and James Fisher and fiancée Erin Carlson of Burlington; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Robin is survived by her mother-in-law, Kathleen Shawlinski of East Brunswick, N.J.; and her brothers-in-law and spouses, Scott and Hope Shawlinski, and David and
Barbara Shawlinski of Toms River, N.J.; and aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father-in-law Frederic Shawlinski of Little Ferry, N.J. Robin married her husband Robert Shawlinski on Sept. 8, 1994, and they served and lived at many Army installations including
Panama, Fort Benning, Ga.; West Point, N.Y.; Tacoma, Wash.; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas and the U.S. Army HRC; Alexandria, Va. Robin always approached life with gusto and in her own way. She wasn't afraid to rock the boat when necessary – to stand up for her convictions and defend what she thought
was right. She had a lot of strength and fight in her to handle the obstacles that were thrown her way. At the same time, you would find that she also had a love to share with her family and friends. She applied both her strength and love to steering her family through the rigors of military life. In March 2007, the Sustainment Command at Schofield Barracks Hawaii awarded the Dr. Mary E. Walker Award to Robin for demonstrating dedicated and exemplary volunteerism as an outstanding military spouse, improving the quality of life for soldiers and their families. During the past year she was an active member of the U.S. Army
Sergeants Major Academy "Class of 58" wives group at Ft. Bliss. Even during her cancer treatments she continued to participate in the classes and social events with the group. Interment will be at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia on Oct. 22.