W magazine once described Pauline Robinson as "beautiful, fabulous, critical, and meddling" and "a former beauty from Ohio with extravagant tastes". On 23 September 1949, Pauline was killed in an automobile accident in Harrison, Westchester County, New York, when Marvin, who was driving the car, lost control as he reached over to stop a cup of hot coffee from sliding across the seat onto his wife. The car crashed into a tree on Purchase St, killing Pauline instantly at 8:12 a.m. She was 53 years old.
Their third child Barbara Pierce, later became the wife of the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush and mother of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.
Pauline was an avid gardener and served as the Garden Club of America conservation chairman.