We’d prayed that we were wrong, that it was only a fluke that in the first three months of 2008, three founders of popular fast food chains-- and the inventor of a fast food favorite--turned up dead in quick succession. And after keeping an eye on the obits and trades through a tense April and finding no further calamities, we were eager to close the book on yet another "coincidence."But now it’s happened again.
Weeks after the death of Herb Peterson, inventor of the Egg McMuffin, and following the passings in rapid and unexplained succession of Carl Carcher of Carl’s Jr. (January 11); Lovie Yancie of Fatburger (January 23), and Popeye's Fanous Fried Chicken founder Al Copeland, (March 23) we learn that Irvine "Irv" Robbins, co-founder of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream chain, has died in Rancho Mirage, California.
Robbins started up the Baskin-Robbins empire in 1947 with single shop in Glendale, California. His partner and brother-in-law, Burton Baskin (father of actor Richard Baskin, best known for his role in Nashville), died of a heart attack in 1967. He was only 54.
Baskin-Robbins has more than 5,800 shops— 2,800 in the United States.
Irvine Baskin was 90.
We return, regretfully, to the death watch.
Not one was offed by their food inventions. No small achievement.
ReplyDeleteThis weekend Anorak will be paying its respects to the founding fathers of fast food at a memorial service at the Brixton McDonald’s, where to save time - because what is food but time consuming? - we will mix the entire menu up in a food blender and drink it.
The party wiil then move on to the nearest hospital for a ritual stomach pumping and prayer…
Thanks for the scoop. Cool and refreshing. Mint that kind of money and it's ice cream heaven.
ReplyDeleteRIP. Rest In Pecan (or peppermint).
ReplyDelete