Philadelphia Jeweler Robert Wolf Dies at 91

Philadelphia—Longtime Philadelphia Jeweler Robert Wolf died March 15 at the age of 91.

Born March 6, 1930 to Henrietta and Jacob Wolf, he grew up in the Logan section of Philadelphia, as per his online obituary.

At the age of 11, he got his start on the city’s historic Jewelers’ Row, working as an errand boy. He worked his way up to being a salesman and then manager of Perloff’s fine jewelry store.

In 1961, he opened Wolf Jewelers on 8th and Walnut streets. The store remained there until the Wolf family sold the building in 2019.

His son, Lon, joined the family business after graduating from college and worked there for nearly 40 years.

Wolf had a number of famous customers come through his store over the years, including entertainers Sammy Davis Jr. and Eddie Fisher, daredevil Evel Knievel, and local celebrities Jack Kelly and Emma Chappell, according to his obituary in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In his youth, Wolf played tennis and was a member of the Raleigh Beach Bums, a volleyball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

He and his wife Erma later bought a home on the Jersey shore, riding bikes along the water together into their 80s.

The couple traveled the world together, visiting Europe, South America, Northern Africa, Mexico, Greece, and other far-flung locales.

“Bob was an exceptionally friendly, gregarious guy who loved to tell stories and jokes and just adored people, who adored him back. He loved life, and lived it to the fullest,” said his online obituary.

In a comment on his obituary, his niece, Allison Better Folkart, remembered how her uncle would sculpt airplanes and automobiles out of sand, to the delight of his nieces and nephews.

He was “full of humor to bolster his family and friends and cutting-edge cool, even into his 90s. He was a man who truly deserved the admiration and love he garnered,” she commented.

Wolf loved staying active, traveling, throwing parties, and fine dining, but his greatest love was his family, according to his obituary.

“He was a fiercely loyal supporter and protector of them, and was their rock through thick and thin. He was the best husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, father-in-law and friend to ever grace this planet.”

Wolf is survived by his wife Erma, daughter Alissa, son Lon, granddaughter Mazie Katherine, sister Marcia Better and her husband Ken, nephew Alan Butchin, former daughter-in-law Boni Wolf, and his nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date due to COVID-19 restrictions.