 He was also elected a Fellow by the American Society for Horticultural Science, the highest award offered by that Society.Robinson died in March 2004 and was survived by his wife, Muriel (1929–2016), daughter Karen, son Ivan and their families.In 2005, the year after his death, the Annual College Lecture for students of horticulture in Ireland, organised and sponsored by Bord Bia, was renamed as the David Robinson Memorial Lecture in his honour, and continues to be given annually under that name.