PORT ANGELES — Doc Robinson is no longer executive director of Serenity House of Clallam County, the homeless services organization he helped pull back from financial hardship.
Business Manager Sharon Maggard agreed to replace Robinson on Wednesday night after filling in as interim director, board President Bob Dunlap said Thursday.
Dunlap said Robinson, 67, notified staff in an email that he was retiring.
Robinson said Thursday he sent an email to staff March 19 saying he was resigning effective immediately from the position he has held since late 2016.
Dunlap would not provide further details about the circumstances of Robinson’s departure.
Robinson, who ran unsuccessfully for Port Angeles City Council in November, would not comment further on his leaving.
“There were a combination of things that are not really explainable,” he said.
“One thing that’s clear is the unremitting stress.
“It wears on you and has an impact.
“That’s what I was under.”
He said in a text earlier Thursday that “the stress of managing operations, finances and fundraising became overwhelming.”
Robinson, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Air Force, said in the interview that he has diabetes and asthma caused by Agent Orange.
Robinson said he and his wife, Nadya — owner of Common Grounds Cafe — will remain in Port Angeles.
He has “some things in the fire” regarding new employment in the social services sector, although not in homeless services at the moment.
“I will find some purpose to serve,” Robinson said.
Robinson was spearheading Serenity House’s efforts with Clallam County to provide temporary living space in the Port of Port Angeles’ 1010 building for homeless people with COVID-19 or who have symptoms of the virus, and for those who cannot maintain the 6-foot social distancing that health officials say is vital to quelling the spread of the virus.
The shelter, furnished with 150 cots supplied by the King County Red Cross organization, remains on track to open a matter of blocks east of Serenity House by mid-April, Kevin LoPiccolo, assistant director of Clallam County Health and Human Services, said Thursday.
The organization’s living quarters are too small for its residents, many of whom sleep in bunk beds, to maintain physical distancing standards.
Robinson’s work with state officials and county commissioners led to the county grant that makes the shelter possible, he said.
When Robinson was hired in November 2016, the New Orleans native said Serenity House was 16 days from closing due to mismanagement from a prior administrator.
“That was a huge part of my current level of stress,” he said.
“There were debts all over the place, and we had to get those off the books, and I did.”
Now that he has left, “it’s a going concern that still has hurdles to cross and has a known path.
“We have growing programs and services and are reducing our dependence on the community.”
Dunlap agreed that Robinson was instrumental in getting Serenity House on solid footing.
“It’s certainly correct we were in very bad shape,” Dunlap said.
“Doc did a lot to rectify some problems that were there, and to get it going in a good direction, and to solve some of the financial problems, so I give him a lot of credit.
“We’re still not as stable as we need to be,” Dunlap said.
“He was extremely sincere about the whole homeless issues, and we are greatly appreciative of all he did.”
Robinson said Maggard will do good job running Serenity House.
“She knows what she’s doing,” he said
Maggard will earn $32 an hour — $66,560 a year — the same as Robinson, Dunlap said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
Sharon Maggard is the new Serenity House executive director.
