Co-Founder of Baskin-Robbins Heads Off Into The Ice Cream Sunset

Baskin-Robbins is now part of Dunkin' Brands Inc. and has more than 5,800 franchises worldwide.

But it all started over 60 years ago with brothers-in-law Burton (Burt) Baskin, Irvine Robbins and their 31 flavors (well, OK they actually started with 21 types).

Today, it was announced that co-founder Robbins passed away at the age of 90.

"Frankly, I never met a flavor I didn't like," Robbins told The New York Times in 1973.

Robbins opened his first ice cream store in Glendale, Calif., in December 1945, following his discharge from the Army. He used $6,000 from a cashed-in insurance policy his father had given him for his bar mitzvah.

As corporate policy, Baskin-Robbins employees were allowed to eat all the ice cream they wanted, because, Robbins said, "I don't want my employees stealing."