At Age 99, Jackie Robinson’s Widow Rachel Robinson Is a Force of Nature – Opinion

Most men with any courage of conviction and honesty will admit that when they find the right woman to support them through the bad patches, that man has “married up.” Jackie Robinson sure did.

Jackie married Rachel Isum in February 1946. Both were students at UCLA. Rachel earned a nursing degree in 1945. Jackie started playing pro baseball again, this time with white guys, just months after he married. He started with a AAA team as a test – not to test his ability to play in the majors — that Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey already knew; he was there to test Robinson’s resolve to tolerate the inevitable racism from spectators, managers, and players. The test was passed with Rachel’s assistance.

Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers a year later. Jackie and Rachel endured worse abuse. Death threats were as common as the cry of “play ball.” In every city. One city after another. Rachel was there to console and love Rachel in the worst of times. Jackie and Rachel worked together. Jackie suffered a terrible loss, and Rachel was subject to the same hateful, racist, and inexcusable hatred. They remained together as a team.

Rachel was there to keep him on track when he, rightfully so, wanted to respond against racist taunts. Rachel received her Masters of Psychiatric Nursing after Jackie had retired in 1956. She later became a clinician and researcher at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, then became a professor at Yale’s School of Nursing.

Jackie Robinson died in 1972. She established the Jackie Robinson Development Corp. This helped to create affordable housing. The foundation’s continuing mission is to leadership and learning opportunities for minority students. The foundation has helped over 1000 students. This remarkable achievement is reflected in the 97 percent graduation rate.

Rachel Robinson, 99 years old (and just three months shy of 100), is still a force in nature.  Saturday was Jackie Robinson Day.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier on the 75th Anniversary. His legacy continues through his friends and those who were inspired by him, as well as the many lives he touched. #Jackie42 https://t.co/680Ppz9ArZ

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 15, 2022

Every season, MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball with a day where every player wears his number ‘42.’ Rachel Robinson shows up at Dodger Stadium each year, traveling from her ranch in Connecticut, and celebrates along with the rest of baseball. Rachel Robinson is a marvel to me every year. Her beauty is amazing. You can see the light in her eyes, the kindness and warmth — notwithstanding the years of abuse she and Jackie endured.

At 99, she remains a beautiful woman — not just because she beams with love and grace, but because of she has lead a remarkable life in her own right, and took second seat to Jackie.

She married one of America’s most loved Americans. Jackie Robinson is rightfully honored every year, but without Rachel, without his rock and soul mate, I don’t think there would have been a Jackie Robinson — certainly not the legend we know today.

As I said, Jackie married up.