Cofounder of Baskin-Robbins Dies at 90

Irvine Robbins, cofounder of Baskin-Robbins' Ice Cream died today at 90 of natural causes. Baskin Robbins' Rocky Road ice cream (one of the original 31 flavors) has been my favorite for years.

Baskin-Robbins' 31 original flavors

Banana Nut Fudge

Black Walnut

Burgundy Cherry

Irvine Robbins 1976

Butterscotch Ribbon

Cherry Macaroon

Chocolate

Chocolate Almond

Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Fudge

Chocolate Mint

Chocolate Ribbon

Coffee

Coffee Candy

Date Nut

Egg Nog

French Vanilla

Green Mint Stick

Lemon Crisp

Lemon Custard

Lemon Sherbet

Maple Nut

Orange Sherbet

Peach

Peppermint Fudge Ribbon

Peppermint Stick

Pineapple Sherbet

Raspberry Sherbet

Rocky Road 

Strawberry

Vanilla

Vanilla Burnt Almond

Source: Baskin-Robbins

There seems to be a lot of debate about whether or not eating dairy is good for you. The trend has been to eat reduced fat dairy foods. However, excerpts from the 3 articles that I have posted below indicate that heredity rather than fat may be the actual villian. Irvine Robbins supposedly ate three to four scoops of ice cream a day and died of natural causes (old age) at 90. His partner, Baskin, died of heart disease over 40 years ago. Were they both swimming in the same genetic pool? It is highly doubtful. 

In a 1976 interview in The New York Times, in which he said he ate three or four scoops a day, Mr. Robbins said that Americans had become adventurous in their ice cream choices. “They’re not embarrassed to ask for some of these wild flavors,” he said. “I think we’ve had a little bit to do with making it more acceptable.” New York Times

Family members said Baskin-Robbins is the nation's oldest food franchise. Part of Dunkin' Brands Inc., it has more than 5,800 stores worldwide, according to The Associated Press. 

Robbins sold the company to United Fruit Co. in 1967 -- the same year Baskin died of heart disease -- but remained as president until 1978. Seattle Post Intelligencer

With his wife, Irma, whom he married in 1942, he raised three children. As an adult, his son John rejected the family business and wrote "Diet for a New America," a 1987 book critical of the meat and dairy industries.

Los Angeles Times

Irvine Robbins

Irvine Robbins, Ice Cream Entrepreneur and a Maestro of 31 Flavors, Dies at 90 New York Times

Irvine Robbins, 90; co-founder of the Baskin- Robbins ice cream empire Los Angeles Times