Robert Stephen Roth

Robert Stephen Roth, a Los Angeles businessman and philanthropist with a characteristically broad smile, an unbounded sense of optimism, and an unwavering strength, died on December 19 at Hoag hospital in Newport Beach, California, at the age of 80 years old.
Bob grew up in Los Angeles, attending University High School and the University of California, Berkeley for undergraduate education before attending its school of law. After practicing law, Bob joined his father to help lead World Oil Corporation, a company founded in 1937 with the purchase of a single gas station on the corner of Florence and Normandie in South Central Los Angeles. Through the leadership of Bob and his brother Steve, the company grew beyond gas stations to incorporate recycling, oil refining and transportation businesses. In 1987, well ahead of his time, Bob transformed World Oil into a leader in environmental sustainability through the acquisition of Demenno Kerdoon, now the largest recycling business of its kind in the western United States. Over the past several decades, Bob and Steve steadily grew World Oil Company into one of the largest privately held companies in California.
Bob similarly devoted himself to his philanthropic efforts through his family's foundation. In part inspired by his successful heart transplant surgery in Los Angeles in 2007, Bob dedicated himself to heart health initiatives, serving as a long-time member of the board of Hoag Hospital and making transformational gifts to support Hoag's Advanced Heart Failure Program, its endowed chair program, and the Georgia & Robert Roth Pavilion. He similarly endowed a wing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for research and treatment using advanced heart technologies. Bob was committed to supporting a variety of other causes, including Wilshire Boulevard Temple, the Hoag Hospital Foundation, and the University of Southern California where he served on the Gould School of Law Board.
Despite his business success, Bob is perhaps best remembered for his warmth and kindness. From an early age, growing up as the middle son among three boys, Bob exuded a unique charm. His mother recognized this, so before approaching her intimidating mother-in-law's home, she would send young Bob ahead to the doorstep where he would perform a tap dance and a song. He was irresistible, and he never failed to soften his usually stern grandmother, making it safe for the rest of the family to enter. Bob's off-tempo dancing and singing would continue until the very end of his life, and so would his natural ability to connect with others.
Bob's grace, charm and unyielding optimism never faded. Even in the most challenging moments, he would beam his signature smile and declare with conviction that he would live to be 120-just as old as Moses. With all his strength and determination, it was hard not to help but believe he just might defy expectations, before ascending to his proverbial "gas station in the sky."
Bob is survived by his wife Georgia, brothers Steve and Richard, children Melissa (Triedman), Jennifer (Kaufman) and Andrew, stepsons Chris and Bill (Deuchar), and grandchildren who cherish and find solace in all the wonderful moments they shared with him.
Memorial services will be held on Sunday, January 12th at 10:30 am at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, located at 3663 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Hoag Hospital Foundation in the name of Robert "Bob" Roth, www.hoaghospitalfoundation.org.