David Robertson

Profile Updated: January 11, 2010
Residence: Winnetka, IL USA
Spouse/Partner &
Year Married or
Years Together:
(include maiden name
if applicable)
DIANE BATTEN [NT '71]
Occupation: lawyer
Yes! Attending Reunion
Mobile Telephone:

312-961-1312

Work Telephone:

312-943-7866

Bio:

*my parents both graduated from NT in 1944
*an uncle [George Hinners '46] and I share the distinction of BOTH having had an eraser pitched at our respective heads by English/Great Books teacher and one-time baseball coach LIONEL LIGHTNER [he missed me]
*ironically, given the NTHS-ETHS rivalry, I learn that my father's uncle and father co-wrote one of the ETHS fight songs.
*born at Evanston Hosp, 9-30-1952; Fred Young's and my mom were roommates; Fred was born 2 days later, thus becoming my oldest friend. Chris Hall is next longest-duration friend
*went to Crow Island until Halloween Day, 1959, 2nd grade, when we moved to 286 Sheridan and the Greeley district. our nearest neighbors were the Schlueter, McBride, Plochman, Peacock, Frank, Kolflat, Lazear, and Jones families. 286 was torn down in mid-1990s. Jeni Schlueter Spinney now owns half of my side yard.
*After NTE, went to Dartmouth, along with a dozen or so others from each of the NT classes of '70, '71, & 72. Tom Denison NTE '71 was a roommate and fraternity brother.
*summers thru college and law school were spent painting many north shore houses with Dave Peck '69.
*I led 2-3 week canoe trips to Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park every summer for many years; fellow trippers over the years included Trip Abnee, Bill Hoyt, Steve & Wyllys Baird [AND their dad, John in 1973!], Tom Ahlborn '71, Ed Woodbury '72, Dave Miliken, Chris Hall, Dave Peck, Fred Wall '72; my most recent trip was in 2004, my dad's final trip, after first going there in 1942.
*law school was NOTHING like the Paper Chase; moved downtown, and remained in the City until my mother died. Now live in her house. graduated January, 1981. sworn in 5-1-1989 & viewed Magna Carta at the Chicago Cultural Center that same momentous day
*co-founder of Lincoln Park Lacrosse Club, 1979; President/Coach, 1980 until retired from active play, 1995; now president of Lincoln Park Fossils
*1982- joined Loop Associates investment club; presiding partner in 1998 and 2006
*married Jeanine Wall [law school classmate from Wisconsin] in 1988. Best man was Trip Abnee; Dave Peck was a groomsman; a bagpiper led the wedding party from Winn. Congregational Church following the ceremony
*repaid the honor and stood up in both Trip's and Dave's weddings. introduced Trip to Nina Heagstedt NTE '72, was awarded "matchmaker" t-shirt at their nuptuals; The Eric Hochberg [NT '70] Band performed. Steve Baird also was groomsman for Trip.
*Jeanine and I started our own law firm 6-1-1989; we're still located at 670 N. Clark St., doing a fairly general civil practice;
*1983-2007: went to almost every Opening Day at Wrigley with Trip
*1996-2003: fortunate to travel a lot: Europe [thrice], Morocco, Belize, Mexico's Copper Canyon
*2001 bought "Wayside", property on LaSalle Island, in L. Huron/Les Cheneaux Islands, Cedarville, MI, next to Abnee's property; our summer retirement property, IF we finally can retire. partners in property are Stuart and Barb HUSUM 'NTE72 Cornew. no more traveling, now that we are owners of old wooden cabins: "the only thing that works in an old cabin...is the owner"; come up and see us in the great north.
*2003-was on the "committee" for the Skokie '66 reunion held at Chuck Frank's humble cottage by the lake; had almost as much fun planning it as during the actual party; a remarkable 60%+ of the class showed up [and only 4 spouses!].
*Feb, 2004: completed 52km American Birkebeiner x-c ski race [classic style] in 6:00.14
*7-25-2008, Trip Abnee, my best friend since January 1960, when the Abnees moved to Winnetka, died [cancer]. very sad day.
*my parents both died at age 95. mom lived her entire life in Winnetka

Favorite School Memories:

I graduated from Skokie with members of NT '70, but was a member of NTE '71;
*first week of freshman: hearing guys [who didn't know who I was] talk about the crazy swim coach giving the "gaboon speech",
*Lagniappe 1970, when dad walked out on stage [in his tank suit and t-shirt] as Kirby Strohm was doing his excellent imitation of dad giving the "gaboon speech". Kirby was floored
*spring, 1970 [after Kent State]; history teacher Dr. Angus Johnston opening his window and shouting at the protestors on the front steps: "if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, STAY OFF THE KING'S LAWN"
*the annual scavenger hunts with the NT Guard were a blast; I still don't know how Bruce Leanse avoided arrest for speeding.
*teaching swimming on Saturday mornings; the honor of being Head Guard
*escaping the pool and playing lacrosse & soccer
*with Boy's Ensemble: singing "you make me feel so young" to the senior citizens at the retirement homes in Evanston
*singing "Here's to Our Team, we're the Green and the Gray..." on the bus after winning an away meet, starting as the bus went under the tracks on Winnetka Ave.
*winning my last swim race [heat 2, 200 IM, League Meet Feb, 1971, 5th overall]
*spring 1968; went to Evanston for the first ever NT lacrosse game; the entire ETHS varsity football team greeted our bus. they beat the snot out of us little guys, but we never lost to them again in the next 7 games thru 1971.
*swimming against future Olympic gold medalists John Kinsella and John Murphy. highly unfair, as both were a foot taller than I. Kinsella would be 2 body lengths ahead immediately after the starting dive! we never beat Hinsdale during my 4 years, but also never lost to ETHS, and were 2nd in State each year.
*12-9-1970, received letter advising of early admission to Dartmouth. glorious day. made the rest of the year a skate
*[winter?]/spring 1971: Senior Ditch Day: 6 of us froze our asses off in the very top row at Wrigley.
*spring 1971 [later, when it was warm], Advisor William Boyd took his boys to Wrigley for an end of HS game. Roberto Clemente fouled off 18 straight pitches. amazing.
*Graduation; had never even seen the girl seated to my left before the practice session...nor since

Junior High School Attended:

SKOKIE

High School Attended: (NTE, NTW, or name of another school)

NTE '71; LAWRENCEVILLE SCOOL [66-67]

Colleges Attended & Degrees:

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, BA; 1975

IIT-CHICAGO-KENT COLLEGE OF LAW; J.D. '81

David's Latest Interactions

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David Robertson has left an In Memory comment for Steven R. Weil.
Jan
08
Jan 08, 2024 at 5:42 PM

I am proud to be in a photo showing the Troop 18 Eagle Scouts in June, 1966.  Steve Weil, Trip Abnee, Ed Troyer, Steve Baird, Bob Humphrey, Doug Schaff, and yours truly.  

David Robertson has a birthday today.
Sep
30
Sep 30, 2023 at 4:33 AM
Sep
23
Sep 23, 2023 at 5:31 PM

Countdown to the 30th! How r U at the D&D B&B? Champagne and pancakes.

David Robertson has a birthday today.
Sep 30, 2022 at 4:33 AM
Sep 23, 2022 at 6:31 AM

Hey young Black Panther! Have a great birthday next week.

Aug 31, 2022 at 5:15 PM
David Robertson has a birthday today. New comment added.
Sep 30, 2021 at 1:22 PM

Posted on: Sep 30, 2021 at 4:33 AM

David Robertson has a birthday today.
Sep 30, 2020 at 4:33 AM
David Robertson has a birthday today.
Sep 30, 2019 at 4:33 AM
David Robertson has a birthday today.
Sep 30, 2018 at 4:33 AM
David Robertson has a birthday today.
Sep 30, 2017 at 4:33 AM
David Robertson posted a message on Paul A. Beiersdorf's Profile. New comment added.
Nov 09, 2016 at 5:10 PM

Posted on: Nov 09, 2016 at 7:56 AM

Was that what you wished for before blowing out the candles on your birthday cake? Yikes!

David Robertson has a birthday today.
Sep 30, 2016 at 4:33 AM
David Robertson has a birthday today. New comment added.
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:33 AM

Posted on: Sep 30, 2015 at 4:33 AM