A Tribute to Caroline Rinker. Forever in Our Hearts.

The O’Blaney Rinker team lifts up the memories of Caroline’s beautiful smile, positive energy, and infectious laugh. Words cannot express the lives she touched both professionally and personally. She made our industry so much brighter.

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 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. Caroline’s straightforward, no-nonsense character has been a key ingredient to her success and helped the company become what it is today.

Caroline considered volunteer work with the lighting community to be an integral part of our mission. She always had time to share her expertise and keen industry insight with ORA manufacturer-partners, employees, and colleagues and friends too numerous to count. Caroline will remain a brilliant light to warm our hearts.

If you are interested, donations may be made to one of her favorite charities:

Please visit Caroline’s memorial page to upload and share stories, memories and kind words. We respectfully ask that you do not comment on other people’s posts. This platform is meant for you to share your personal memories and experiences with Caroline.