OWINGS MILLS, Md. — He was remembered as selfless and extraordinary by those who knew him well, and by those who had only crossed paths with him under the most trying of circumstances.
Hundreds turned out for the funeral of Lenny Robinson, who dressed up as Batman and drove his Batmobile to area hospitals and charity events to cheer up sick kids.
The 51-year-old was killed Sunday on Interstate 70 west of Hagerstown. He had pulled his re-creation of a 1960s Batmobile to the side of the highway when it was struck by another car.
The outpouring of support Wednesday was immense: Approximately 800 to 900 people attended the funeral at Har Sinai Congregation in Owings Mills, according to Michael Miller of Sol Levinson Funeral Home. All in attendance were amazed at the impact Robinson had made in their lives and the lives of others.
Buc Syski of Silver Spring attended the service with son Kasper, who has a condition affecting his joints. They had met Robinson at several charity events.
“What he would do is just spend a few minutes with people like Kasper,” providing a huge boost, Buc Syski says. “It’s amazing how it gives you peace — the whole world is fine again.”
Parents and even hospital leaders considered Robinson’s efforts a crucial part of the healing process.
“He changed the conversation, he lightened the mood in the room,” says Amy Perry, president of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. In addition to medicine, “there’s other things that kids need to heal too … they need hope, they need emotional support.”
“I think the costume was the least of what made him a superhero,” said longtime friend Eileen Kupfer-Askin, choking up. “I wish I could become Wonder Woman and fill his shoes.”
Robinson’s efforts gained national attention in 2012 when a dashcam video surfaced of Montgomery County police pulling him over while he was in his full Batman costume and driving a black Lamborghini. He later swapped the high-end car for a ’60s-era replica of the Batmobile.
