Obituary of Robin S. Mastrocola
Robin Mastrocola, aka Ethel Shumard Mastrocola, 92, of Long Pond, died Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Lehigh Valley - Pocono Hospice in East Stroudsburg. The widow of Vince Mastrocola who died in 2012, she is survived by her sister, Charlotte A. Robertson of Lakewood, Ohio, six nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews. She and Vince retired to the Poconos from Hopewell Township, New Jersey in 1998.
Born Mary Ethel Shumard in Atlanta, Georgia, her father Charles was an assistant Professor at Georgia Tech at the time. Her mother, Ruth, was a high school French and Spanish teacher at Pennington High School, New Jersey before her retirement.
Robin's early years were spent throughout New Jersey via her father's employment at RCA as a research development engineer and inventor. A high school honor student, she attended Ohio State University of Missouri for journalism. A publicity position in Pittsburgh led her to Vince, a corporate attorney, who nicknamed her "Robin." After a two- year courtship they were married at the Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, remaining in Pittsburgh until Vince's profession led them back to New Jersey, where he eventually commuted to Wall Street as a claims supervisor in the legal department of American Express, traveling widely. Robin became owner and proprietor of The Eagle House, a gift shop in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey for 12 years.
Her father retired from the RCA Research Laboratories, Princeton, in 1961. When Ethel's mother died suddenly in 1974, her father urged them to build adjacent to his property in Hopewell Township.
Robin joined the League of Women Voters in Pittsburgh, an active member over more than 60 years, for which she was presented a citation from the PA legislature in 2016. She was president of chapters in Newark and Hopewell, New Jersey, and president for seven years of the Monroe County, Pa chapter. She also was president of the New Jersey Alumni Chapter of the University of Missouri, Hopewell Valley Chorus, Saturday Evening Dance Club, and Local area Sweet Adelines. She was a charter member and treasure of the former Emerald Lake's Women's Club.
Burial at the Shumard family plot on Hopewell will follow. Those wishing to honor Robin are encouraged to donate to their favorite charity in her name. For further information contact Theresa Merli, longtime friend and executor PO Box 649, Swiftwater, Pa 18370.
