06/14/2025
The world just lost a great health advocate.
A tribute from Ocean Robbins about his dad, John Robbins, the heir to Baskin Robbins….
It is with a heart filled with grief, gratitude, and love that I share the news of the passing of my dear friend, mentor, and father, John Robbins.
My dad dedicated his life to the pursuit of a healthier, more compassionate world, and he inspired millions through his books, talks, and leadership in the food movement. As many of you know, he had been living with the impacts of Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) in recent years.
My dad died from complications of PPS - peacefully, in his home, surrounded by his closest loved ones.
The grief I feel is profound. And so, too, is the gratitude. My dad was not only a legend in the food movement, but he was also the most loving and wise guide I could have ever hoped for. I’m blessed beyond measure to have had him as my father, and it’s been one of the greatest honors of my life to walk this path with him through our shared leadership of the Food Revolution Network.
Sometimes people would ask me if I was walking in his shadow, and I’d say no - I’m standing in his light.
I still do feel illumined by that light. Even though he’s no longer here in body, my dad’s wisdom and light continue to inspire me and millions of others around the world. If you attune closely, perhaps you can feel him even now.
His books, his life of integrity, his insatiable curiosity (he often read a book per day!), and his profound love helped to ignite a movement that has transformed the way millions of people think about food, health, and the future of life on Earth.
While this is a time of immense sorrow, I also feel a deep sense of joy. In fact, the two feel inseparable. We’re only grieving because we have so much gratitude for the light and the love that my dad has brought into our lives.
My dad lived his life fully. He loved deeply. He challenged established norms. And he was a leader in the movement to build a more healthy, ethical, and sustainable world.
I know that his extraordinary legacy will continue to ripple out for generations to come.
The filmmaker Scott Cervine teamed up with some dear friends to create a very beautiful “living memorial” video that we shared with my dad before he passed. Some of it is pretty personal, and I’d love to share it with you.
The team at FRN created a memorial page, which includes the video. On it, you are invited to share your own reflections, memories, grief, gratitude, and prayers.
If you feel moved to add something, the whole Robbins family would love to see it.
The page is linked here.
The life of my dad, John Robbins, may have ended, but our work is just getting started.
If you have been touched by his life and work, then I invite you to consider how you can carry on his legacy.
Please share it and grow it through the food you eat, the love you share, and the impact you make on those you cherish, and on the world we all share.
In lieu of flowers, our family is inviting donations to the nonprofit my dad and I recently founded together, Food Revolution Alliance, which will continue the mission of promoting healthy, ethical, and sustainable food for all. The organization is just getting started, and with your support, I know it will do great things.
(You can find out more, and, if you’d like, make a contribution in my dad’s memory, here.)
Of course, you can also support Food Revolution Network by buying our courses, joining WHOLE Life Club and the Plant-Based Coaching Certificate, spreading the word about our work, reading our articles, and participating in our endeavors.
With your support, we will carry forward the vision that my dad held so dear – a world where everyone can thrive, where the food we eat nourishes both our bodies and the planet, and where compassion guides our choices.
Now, the torch is in all of our hands.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. My dad always believed in the power of community, and I know he would be deeply touched by your love, support, and commitment to the causes to which he dedicated his life.
With grief, love, and gratitude,
Ocean Robbins
P.S. The love and support of so many means the world to our family right now. Thank you for being part of our beloved community.
Here, again, is a link to the memorial page.
