Shirley Baskin Familian (the pioneer of public TV, multimedia artist, philanthropist, and businesswoman who was involved with the founding of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream) passed away peacefully at home on the night of Oct. 13, according to her family. She was 101.
Familian was deeply involved in KCET since its advent in 1964. The channel’s landmark series were produced by Familian over her seven-decade tenure on the board.Cosmos on a Personal VoyageCarl Sagan, produced and presentedThe Cousteau OdysseyAnd American Familyfor PBS. It was part of the group of stations that produced Emmy-winning programs. American Playhouse. Huell Howser’s folksy California’s Gold was also produced at the KCET lot until Howser’s death in 2013. Familian was honored by The KCET Women’s Council at the organization’s annual fundraiser, Star Luncheon, in 2011.
Familian was an artist who used stamps to create collages and images. Her work has been exhibited at the Los Angeles Craft & Folk Art Museum and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
After graduating college, she was married to Burton. “Butch”Baskin, who just returned from WWII. Butch Baskin joined forces with Shirley’s brother Irv, who had learned the dairy business from their father, to found Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream. Shirley was there to help them build the six-store chain that became the largest ice cream business in the world.
At 47, her first husband died. Before her death, she was briefly married to Aaron Goldfarb. She was 60 when she married Isadore Familian, with whom she had 20 years of marital bliss.
Shirley Baskin Familian’s children, Edie Baskin Bronson (Richard Baskin) and Richard Baskin (Richard Baskin) are survivors. “Skip”Bronson; grandchildren Anabella and David, Scott, and Jon; great grandchild Goldie Bronson
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UCLA Neurosurgery Institute and the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center.