Caroline J. Rinker

Rinker, Caroline J. age 63 a resident of Westwood and a former resident of Manhattan and the Bronx died Sunday, June 18, 2023. Beloved wife of Kevin Barr and the devoted daughter of Dolly Rinker. We will always love you. Caroline was predeceased by her father, Eugene Rinker. Caroline was the loving eldest granddaughter of the late Caroline and Frank Aiello. Her memory will be cherished by her many loving cousins and friends. Caroline loved her dear pets Fanny and Fezziwig and the late Ebenezer. A prominent figure in the New York City lighting community, Caroline enjoyed a storied 45+ year career. She was a role model, a mentor, a motivator, and a consummate professional. Her boundless passion, dedication, and contributions to the lighting community were monumental. She was a member of Women in Lighting Design (WILD) and a supporter of the Illuminating Engineering Society New York City section (IESNYC). She served as President of the Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY) in 2010-2012 and was an active board member for 20 years. She also volunteered and became co-chair of the LEDucation Trade Show and Conference starting in 2014 – which became a platform that will continue to help further education in the lighting community for years to come. She always had her eye on the future. Caroline worked in the New York City lighting community in manufacturing, distribution and independent sales. In 2010, she partnered with James O’Blaney to form O’Blaney Rinker Associates. The firm expanded to two offices and a team of 15 representing 34 architectural lighting and controls lines. Family and friends are invited to visit Thursday 3-7PM at the Volk Leber Funeral Home, 268 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell. A service will begin on Friday at 10:30AM at the funeral home. All are invited to arrive beginning at 9AM. Interment to follow at Garden of Memories, Washington Township. In keeping with Caroline’s wishes, the family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to one of her favorite charities; ASPCA (https://www.aspca.org/), Tunnel to Towers (https://t2t.org/), Toys for Tots (https://www.toysfortots.org/), or to the Wounded Warriors Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).