Fred Robin

Life Snapshots

Born: Fredric Charles Robin – Hartford, Conn – Parents: George & Esther Robin on June 6, 1941.

Due to serious asthma/health issues as a baby/ toddler, the doctor told his father George to move to Arizona or Fred wouldn’t survive. George uprooted the family, himself, wife Esther, and older brother, Alan and moved to Tucson, AZ. After a few years of dealing with the heat, George moved the family to Santa Monica, CA and that’s where Fred grew up and flourished. His younger brother, Edward arrived after the family was settled in Santa Monica.

Fred loved to talk about the car rides each summer back to Connecticut to visit family – lots of music and singing.

As a young man, Fred loved tennis and played on the Santa Monica High School tennis team. Also, Fred loved music and singing.  He performed in many school plays, usually with the lead due to his incredible singing voice.

Fred studied music – mostly voice in his youth.  He trained as a cantor, sang on radio, and enjoyed going to concerts to hear the latest trends in Opera or Jazz and more. He had a real love of music and kept up with the current trends right up to the end.

Family:  Fred married Martha in his youth and they had three beautiful children, Michael, Stephen, and Susan.  In later years, many grandchildren arrived.

Second family: In later years, Fred married Roberta and they share their lovely daughter, Sarah.

Family Business: At an early age, Fred was brought into the family auto business.  His father George had a car lot downtown L.A. and with the help of his wife, Esther, who worked with him, the auto business flourished. Fred was a natural salesman – sold his first car at the age of 11.

George, older brother Alan and Fred started Open Road Industries (RV recreational vehicles) when Fred was 18 years old.  By the age of 26, the company went public and Fred became an executive of a major public corporation. Fred loved to talk about how traveled to 2 towns a day 5 days a week for 11 years.  It took a lot to build the RV business.

Open Road came to an end in the mid/ late 1970’s due to gasoline shortages.

Fred continued on working at various ventures, almost all in the automotive business. In his later years, Robin Brothers was formed with

Alan Robin, Fred Robin and Edward Robin for investment pursuits; mostly in the Life Insurance/Life Settlement Business.

Contributions: Fred believed in giving of himself to others.  In the mid 1980’s he served as President of Sinai Temple, during which time there was major changing of the guard so to speak – a movement lead in part by Fred.

Fred not only gave of his time, but also, monetarily.  All of the Robin family got to enjoy the “Robin Cabin” at Camp Ramad. which was donated by Fred.

Fred enjoyed spending time with his brothers, his family and in his later years, playing golf and bridge (card game). He was a vibrant, energetic man; full of wit, great stories and a love of life and humanity.