ROBERT DANIEL GILBERT
The internationally loved and respected Robert Daniel Gilbert, founder of RDG WOODWINDS INC, died at his home in Los Angles after a lengthy illness on August 2, 2008 at the age of 83. Robert (Bob) was born on February 22nd, 1925 in South Bend, Indiana, the youngest of four children of Israel and Sadie Gilbert.

His favorite memories of Indiana included having taken a high school gym class from John Wooden (UCLA coach), and sneaking out of the house to hear jazz and big band music. After leaving Indiana to attend USC, he accidentally found his calling while working on a class project. His import/export class required him to import something. As he needed reeds to play saxophone in the USC marching band, he imported a shipment and immediately sold out to other band members. RDG INC, his woodwind instrument and accessories business, was the result of these first sales. His clients included major symphonies from around the world (tour busses would stop by his office), and musical celebrities such as Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee. He loved to tell of listening to the radio broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera and getting a phone call from the principal oboist who was in the pit and needed to place an order. Some years he sold as many oboes from his shop in Los Angeles as were sold elsewhere throughout the rest of United States. His business was his great love from 1950 until he sold it to his general manager, Nancy Huang, in time for his 80th birthday in 2005. He spent hour after hour with his long time loyal employees and beloved customers.

Bob was married just short of 50 years to Alice Elma Newhouse Gilbert. They were set up on a blind date and were hugely compatible due to their mutual love of music and baseball. Alice was his business partner and bookkeeper.

Bob was predeceased in death by his adoring wife Alice in 1999, and more recently by his beloved older siblings, brother Marcus Gilbert and sister Annette Faye Ofstein.

Survivors include his brother David Gilbert, sister-in-law Rose Gilbert, daughters Linda Gilbert, Natalie Bernstein, Suzanne Gilbert and Jacqueline Relph, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held August 4th at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, L.A. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the USO, classical music station KUSC Los Angeles, or The American Youth Symphony.

05/19/2022 EJS