Shirley Baskin Familian, KCET Co-Founder, Dies at 101

J. Kim Murphy
·2 min read

Shirley Baskin Familian, a founder of the public television station KCET, died Oct. 23. She was 101 years old.

Working with her first husband, Burton Baskin, Baskin Familian co-founded the public television station KCET in Los Angeles. In 1964, KCET became an affiliate of the National Educational Television network. Baskin Familian served as a board member for KCET for multiple decades.

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Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Baskin Familian attended the University of Washington, studying art and design and serving as the president of the Associated Women Students. She met her first husband during her college years. The two married and moved to Southern California after Burton served four years in the Navy.

Notably, Baskin Familian’s brother, Irv Robbins, created the ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins alongside Burton Baskin. The company began as a single shop in Glendale, Calif. before expanding. Baskin Familian worked with her husband and brother in building Baskin-Robbins.

Widowed at 47 by Burton Baskin, Shirley then married Aaron Goldfarb, who died after less than a year. At 60, she married businessman Isadore Familian. Isadore Familian died after 20 years.

Baskin Familian continued to produce art throughout her life, completing her most recent piece at the age of 100. Her one-woman shows featured at the Los Angeles Crafts museum, Indianapolis Children’s museum and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Baskin Familian is survived by her children, Edie Baskin Bronson, Richard Baskin and Richard “Skip” Bronson; her grand-children, Anabella and David, Scott and Jon; and her great-granddaughter, Goldie Bronson. Donations can be made to the UCLA Neurosurgery Institute and the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center.

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