Beloved volunteer and former employee Cece Robman remembered
Steve RobmanCece Robman and her husband Marvin
Longtime City of Hope volunteer and employee Cece Robman died in January at age 88 in Los Angeles. The daughter of late City of Hope Board Chair Lou Tabak, Robman befriended hundreds of chapter members during her lifetime.
As a board chair’s daughter, Robman grew up watching City of Hope’s growth and expansion firsthand — exposure that influenced her own career path. In December 1979, she joined City of Hope’s staff as a director of nursing practice and remained with the institution until 1994, when she left the organization as a national events executive coordinator. Her husband, Marvin, also a devoted volunteer, served as a City of Hope board member.
After her City of Hope employment ended, Robman remained involved as a tireless volunteer, overseeing fundraising events, including Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer, Workout for Hope and Coupons for Hope in Southern California. The committed supporter also worked closely with the Apparel Industry Group, as well as its predecessor, the Merchants Club, for more than 40 years.
Even when she no longer volunteered, Robman remained closely aligned with City of Hope, maintaining contact with scores of volunteers and employees. She took special pride in bestowing her father’s namesake award to outstanding volunteers at numerous National Conventions.
Guadalupe “Peng” Garbo, senior coordinator of national campaigns, worked with Robman for more than 13 years. “Cece always was pleasant, kind and, most of all, caring. I know many people affiliated with City of Hope will miss her. She was a great inspiration and a role model for many of us,” Garbo said.
Roz Phillips, associate vice president of development, also remembers her fondly. “Her effervescent personality, her calm demeanor and her ability to smooth over any difficult situation were Cece’s personality trademarks,” Phillips said. “She was a true example of a lifelong devoted supporter of City of Hope.”
Robman is survived by three grown sons: Steve, Mark and David.