Robert Louis Karlin, 77, entered into rest in Los Angeles on May 26, 2024. He was born November 7, 1946, to Dorothy Libby (Shadoff) and Arthur Karlin in Boston.
Rob (“Don’t call me Bob or Bobby”) grew up in Sharon, MA, and graduated from Boston University in 1968. He spent many summers on Cape Cod, working alongside his brother at Capecraft, their parents’ souvenir shop in Hyannis.
After college, Rob moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he furthered his entrepreneurial spirit by opening Mortgage Capital Group. He went on to work for a number of banks and real estate developers. It was then that he realized he much preferred being his own boss.
At the age of 50, Rob opened California Casket Company. He eventually became a funeral director himself, operating the Los Angeles Funeral Service, where he was universally praised for his empathetic and compassionate nature, while guiding families through the funeral experience.
Rob cared deeply for his wife Diana, providing care and support to her throughout her ongoing battle with Parkinson’s. He was active in the Chabad Jewish Center Playa Vista, where he had a special relationship with his rabbi. He also had wonderful friends in a men’s group to which he belonged for over three decades. Rob was always willing to lend a helping hand or provide moral support to those who were down on their luck. Simply put, he was a mensch.
In addition to his dedication to work, and devotion to his friends and family, Rob had a great sense of humor and truly loved to make people laugh. He once took a workshop on how to be a standup comedian, and even performed a short set at the end of the class. Suffice it to say, he decided to keep his day job!
Rob is survived by his beloved wife, Diana. He was the devoted father of Adam Karlin (wife, Heather) of Swampscott, MA, and Michelle Sarkis (husband, Jon) of Amston, CT, and the cherished grandfather of Ella and Theodore Karlin, Matthew Sarkis and the late Benjamin Sarkis, with whom he shared a very special bond. He is also survived by his dear brother Martin Karlin (wife, Susan) of Amherst, MA, and his lifelong friends, former wife Adrienne Cohen of Stoughton, MA, and Jerry Cohen (wife, Faye Cohen) of Sharon, MA.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at the Shara Tfilo Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rob’s name may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Leave a Condolence