March 10, 1929 – July 7, 2025
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) mourns the passing of former JANM Trustee, Robert “Bob” Davies Volk.
He grew up in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park neighborhood and attended Third Street School, John Burroughs Junior High School, and Los Angeles High School. After graduating high school in 1947, he received his BS in engineering in 1951 and his MS in mechanical engineering in 1952 from Stanford University.
He served in the Air Force, built a career in Southern California’s construction industry for 20 years, and then formed Volk Properties, a boutique real estate investment firm that he managed for 47 years.
Volk served on JANM’s board for 12 years, starting in 1991. Among other activities, he served on the Pavilion Construction Team and chaired the Building Committee, which oversaw the building of the Pavilion. He also served on the board’s Facilities Committee, which selected the architect for the Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.
A member of the Little Tokyo Community Development Advisory Committee, he also owned property across the street from JANM, which was originally purchased by his great-uncle, James Davies, at First and Alameda streets in 1883. It was because of this long family history that he felt a deep connection to the Little Tokyo community.
“JANM is saddened by the passing of Robert ‘Bob’ Davies Volk,” said William T. Fujioka, chair of the JANM Board of Trustees. “A prominent figure in the Los Angeles philanthropic community, his leadership helped mold JANM into the award–winning institution it is today — a beacon for community engagement, cultural storytelling, and standing firmly and unapologetically in defense of truth and justice