It is with deep sorrow and love that we announce the passing of Robin Adair Ronchi of Marblehead on March 17, 2023, at the age of 57. Robin passed away peacefully, and was supported by a wealth of loving friends and family members during her prolonged illness.
Robin was a proud and devoted mother to her two daughters, Maria and Emilia Ronchi, and a loving wife to Emil, who preceded her in death.
Robin was born on Nov. 15, 1965, in Albany, New York, to Robert and Patricia Adair. She was raised in Castleton-on-Hudson, where she attended high school and spent many summers at her favorite place on earth — her grandparents’ farm in East Meredith, New York. This is where she met Emil.
Robin loved teaching and innovative pedagogy for students, so she pursued her bachelor’s of education at the University of Connecticut and her master’s in education at SUNY Geneseo. Robin and Emil then settled in Rochester, New York, where she taught elementary school.
Robin and Emil next founded a berry farm in Sydney, New York, where they poured their hearts and entrepreneurial spirit into sustainably growing raspberries and strawberries. Here they began their life as a family, working to build Cradle Valley Farm from the ground up while raising two small children.
The family eventually moved to Marblehead, where both Robin and Emil pursued new endeavors. Robin earned her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Lesley University and commenced a gratifying career in social work at Lynn Community Health Center.
She went on to establish her own private practice as a licensed mental health counselor, where she continued to meaningfully connect with both colleagues and clients.
Robin lived a life strongly influenced by spirituality, wellness, diversity, compassion and love. Robin was a talented gardener and maintained bountiful vegetables and beautiful flowers at her beloved family farm in upstate New York and at her charming home in historic Marblehead.
She taught yoga in Marblehead and led a meditation group at the Unitarian Universalist Church, and participated in dance, book club, the board of Me&Thee Coffeehouse, philosophy club, and many other organizations geared towards inner growth, community, music, global understanding and the earth’s sustainability.
In addition to her daughters, Robin is survived by her parents, Robert Adair and Patricia Cinelli, as well as her brother, Michael Adair.
Robin thoroughly enjoyed life and shared kindness and compassion with everyone that she touched. She had a sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes that always lit up a room. Robin is, and always will be, missed greatly and remembered dearly by many.
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m. at O’Donnell Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square, Salem. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Robin’s favored causes: The Food Project (thefoodproject.org/donate) or HAWC (hawcdv.org/donate-now).
