Robert Daniel (Bob) Sokolski passed peacefully in his home on Friday June 30th, 2023, at the age of 90. Born in Flushing, Queens, New York, March 7, 1933, Bob went to The Bronx School of Science High School and then on to Dartmouth College. It was at Dartmouth Bob, met his best and lifelong friend Hal Conarro. Hal will tell you one of the smartest decisions he ever made in life was to convince Bob to move to Warren, PA and become lifelong business partners in 1960. Over the next several years Bob and Hal developed several business ventures including the Abadaba Ice Cream Stand, Sparky’s Finer Diner, the Whirley Wash Laundromats, and Sparkle Car Wash eventually owning and operating 7-coin operated laundry mats and car washes. Whirley began manufacturing automated car wash equipment and ultimately established Whirley Industries. As Dustin Hoffman learned in the movie “The Graduate”, the future was in plastics. Bob and Hal created a global company with numerous successful products including the push button salt and pepper shaker, moo cow creamer, dashboard mounted travel mug and many other products which are marketed to the Convenience Store Industry, Theme Parks including Walt Disney World, Six Flags, Universal Studios, Sea World, and many others. Bob and Hal pioneered the first refill travel mug and Whirley’s strength on refills still grows to this day because of this revolutionary concept. Today Whirley Industries employs over 400 TeamMates and has products sold in over 30 countries.
Immediately following college, Bob served in the U.S. Army Ordinance Corps in the Korean War attaining the rank of Captain, at the completion of his military service in 1954. He spoke proudly of helping to keep peace and restore order in the war- torn country.
Following his tour of duty in Korea and discharge from the Army, Bob was introduced to his future wife and lifelong partner Sally Plumb Sokolski (thanks to Hal Conarro). Their marriage was a true partnership and they always “spoke with one voice” in the parenting of their 3 children and all major decisions they faced. Bob and Sally are now re-united in heaven and looking down with peace and love to all. Bob and Sally always put philanthropy as a top priority. Their fingerprints and heart and soul are found in over 100 nonprofits throughout Warren County including Warren County United Fund, Warren County YMCA, Salvation Army, A Safe Place, Hospice, Paws Along the River, Allegheny Valley Veterans Center, Casa, Association for the Recovery of Children, Caring For Life, Children’s Advocacy Center, Crary Art Gallery, Family Services of Warren County, Jefferson Defrees Family Center, Robert Jackson Center, Ruth M. Smith Center, Struthers Library Theatre, Warren County Library. Philanthropy came in both monies, donated to help with operations but also with lifelong coaching and mentoring to truly make numerous non-profit entities sustain and achieve greater results.
Bob served on numerous boards including Warren General Hospital (past president), Warren County YMCA (past president), Audubon Center, Allegheny Valley Veterans Center, Conewango Valley Country Club, Conewango Club, Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry, and many others. Bob always focused on helping others improve and achieve their very best in all aspects of life.
In addition to his philanthropic interests, Bob attained Life Master in Bridge, was a 50-year member of the Warren Shakespeare Club, was the longest tenured member of the Conewango Club. Bob was also a member of the Conewango Investment Club, Conewango Paddle Tennis Group, and the Conewango Valley Country Club where he “tolerated” golf.
Bob is now re-united with his wife and most trusted friend and partner Sally. They were married for 55 years until Sally’s passing in 2011. Bob is survived by his 3 children: Andrew and his wife Michele and six grandchildren Zach, Emily (plus 2 great grandchildren Clover and Arthur), William, Sara, Edward, and Joseph; Lincoln and his wife Salsa and two grandchildren, Lincoln Nathaniel, and Oliver; Elizabeth Sokolski Deambrosio and her husband Juan (Cao) and three grandchildren, Gabriela, Juan (Nicolas) and Alejandra. Nothing made Bob happier than to spend time with his grandchildren and coach / mentor them in their business careers and life in general. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, W.T. (Tim) Cashman of Wilmington, DE.,
Hal and Mary Conarro and their 5 children are particularly acknowledged as 73-year extended family friends and business partners.
In addition to his wife, Sally, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Letecia Lynch Sokolski and Nathaniel M. Sokolski, his stepmother, Josephine Sokolski, a sister, Carol Plotkin and her husband, Arthur, a sister-in-law, Diana Chambers Plumb Cashman.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 10 AM with Rev. Lee Beckes, Interim Pastor, officiating, followed by a celebration of life and reception at the Conewango Club.
E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to United Fund of Warren County. www.unitedfundwarren.org/ <www.unitedfundwarren.org/>
The Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., Warren, PA. has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.