Irwin N. Stroll; Wounded in RFK Slaying, He Became Famed Designer

Irwin N. Stroll, who became a prominent interior designer after he was wounded by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin nearly 27 years ago, has died at his Malibu home.

Stroll, whose sister said her brother’s clientele included such entertainment figures as Dustin Hoffman, Ray Stark, Regis Philbin and Jackie Collins, was 43 and died Thursday of the complications of AIDS.

Stroll was a 17-year-old art student and Kennedy volunteer waiting to present one of his works to Kennedy after the New York senator’s California presidential primary victory on June 5, 1968.

Cheryl Weiner said her brother had been told by a member of the Kennedy party to follow the senator away from the Ambassador Hotel crowd and present the gift. Instead he was shot in the leg by Sirhan B. Sirhan in the melee that followed Sirhan’s mortal wounding of Kennedy. Four other people were wounded.

Stroll made a full recovery and went on to establish a lucrative practice and have his work featured in many publications, particularly Designer’s West. Reflecting on his own struggles, he also established an annual scholarship at the Pasadena Art Center.

Besides his sister, he is survived by his parents, Francine and Milton Stroll.

The family is asking donations to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, 1311 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica 90404.