It is with great sadness that her family announces that Helen Pogue Laird Robertson passed away at home on February 15, 2023. Her precious canine companion, Traverse, who comforted and delighted her for over fifteen years, also comforted her passing. Helen was born March 29, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio to John Anderson Laird and Sophia Helen (Fisk) Laird, and joined by her sister Judith (Laird) Meyer a few years later. While she only had one biological sister, Helen was blessed to meet several soul-sisters to serve as partners-in-crime, travel companions, and pillars of strength throughout her life.
Helen grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and attended the Baldwin School, outside of Philadelphia, PA. Growing up in Louisville, she learned her love of drawing, animals, silly hats, and green spaces. Throughout her life and up until the COVID-19 pandemic, she summered in Harbor Point, Michigan, and was proud to be the fifth generation of her family to enjoy that privilege. Helen was grateful to share her love of Harbor Point with her children and grandchildren. In Harbor Point, she learned her love of sailing, Petoskey stones, lighthouses, and seagulls. She reveled in seeing her son, James, and daughter-in-law, Connie Robertson, making their lives amid the traditions, beauty, and peace of Northern Michigan.
Following the unconventional-for-the-period familial tradition established by her mother and loving aunts, Helen attended Wellesley College, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, graduating in 1961 and majoring in Religious Studies. She followed her passion for drawing to Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate School of Design, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture in 1968 and her Master’s in Architecture in 1970. Helen continued to have a close relationship to Wellesley College until her passing, acting in countless leadership and volunteer roles in service to friends and fellow alumnae for more than six decades. Wellesley College was truly her Alma Mater in all ways. She honed and utilized her skills as a professional in Cambridge, MA and throughout many other projects, including the remodel of friends’ homes, and the creation of her in-law apartment with her daughter, Poppy, and son-in-law Andrew Griffin, in 2016 in Medfield, MA.
Her marriage, to no one of any consequence whatsoever, resulted in the greatest joys of her life: her children. She is mother to the late Helen Fisk Robertson, James Laird Robertson (of Harbor Springs, Michigan), and Laura (Poppy) Whitelaw Robertson Griffin (of Medfield, Massachusetts). She raised her children as a model of optimism, strength, faith, and love. She unabashedly and courageously lived her life for her kids and encouraged them to find joy everyday.
Helen settled in Wellesley and joined her beloved St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church parish forty-years ago. She relished the spiritual fellowship, joy, friendship, and strength found in the St. Andrew’s community. Helen delighted in giving back through her time with The Flower Guild, and gift of blooming hyacinth bulbs for every child in the parish to celebrate every Easter in honor of her daughter, Helen, for over thirty years.
Since 2017, Helen created her home in Medfield and rejoiced spending her final years alongside her greatest passions: her two grandchildren, Asher Lee Griffin, and August Pogue Griffin. Her grandchildren loved enjoying crafts and puzzles, showing off their accomplishments, going for walks with, and learning family recipes and traditions with their Nana every day at home and Helen treasured every single minute spent with them. Helen also loved gardening with her daughter, feeding the birds, and meeting new people in Medfield.
When her grandson Asher was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer in 2015, she committed to supporting the institutions that saved his life: Dana Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, and she was happy and proud to do so.
Helen leaves the world, and all who knew and loved her, better for it and we are grateful to have had her in our lives.
Visitation at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. Wellesley, MA 02482 on Wednesday, February 22, from 4-7pm. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 23, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 79 Denton Rd. Wellesley, MA 02482 at 11am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Following the Funeral Service, the interment will be held at Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut Street, Newton Center, MA 02459 where Helen will be laid to rest next to her daughter, Helen Fisk Robertson. A post funeral reception will be held afterwards.