ICCFA to Honor Darin Drabing with 2026 ICCFA Hall of Fame Award
Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries CEO recognized for four decades of leadership, innovation, and service to families and the profession
STERLING, Va. (January 6, 2026) – The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) announced today that Darin Drabing, President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, has been selected as a recipient of the ICCFA Hall of Fame Award, the association’s highest honor. Drabing will be formally recognized during the 2026 ICCFA Experience, taking place in Fort Worth, Texas.
The ICCFA Hall of Fame Award honors individuals whose careers have profoundly shaped the cemetery, cremation, and funeral profession through visionary leadership, service, and enduring impact. Drabing’s more than 40-year career reflects a lifetime commitment to caring service, professional excellence, and the advancement of the profession.
Drabing began his career at Forest Lawn in 1984 as an apprentice embalmer, steadily advancing through nearly every level of the organization. His career path includes roles as Supervisor of Mortuary Services, Memorial Counselor, Manager of Funeral Service, Vice President–Cypress, Senior Vice President–Operations, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, before being named President and CEO in 2011. This progression has given Drabing a deep, firsthand understanding of every facet of funeral, cemetery, and cremation service, shaping his reputation as an approachable, ethical, and highly respected leader.
Under Drabing’s leadership, Forest Lawn has continued to evolve as a best-in-class organization. He guided Forest Lawn through the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic, ensuring families received compassionate care while prioritizing employee safety, stability, and well-being. His tenure has been marked by strategic cemetery development, significant investments in technology and enterprise systems, expanded service culture training, and a steadfast focus on employee experience, innovation, and long-term sustainability.
A strong advocate for education and the future workforce, Drabing championed the creation of the Forest Lawn Academy of Mortuary Science in partnership with Cypress College, helping open pathways for individuals entering the profession. He has also emphasized the importance of professional engagement, encouraging involvement in industry associations to ensure Forest Lawn — and the profession at large — remains informed, innovative, and forward-looking.
Drabing currently serves on the Forest Lawn Mortuary Board of Directors, a role he has held since 2006, and the Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Association Board of Directors since 2015. His leadership extends beyond his organization through long-standing service and involvement with ICCFA, where he served as President from 2015-16, and remains actively involved as a long-standing member of the ICCFA Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and Board of Directors. Darin is also an active member of the Cemetery and Mortuary Association of California (CMAC), where he has helped shape dialogue around governance, innovation, and service excellence.
“Darin Drabing exemplifies what the ICCFA Hall of Fame represents,” said ICCFA Immediate Past President Lee Longino and chair of the Hall of Fame Committee. “Throughout his career, he has elevated standards across our profession through principled leadership, strategic vision, and an unwavering focus on people. His influence has strengthened Forest Lawn and left a lasting mark on colleagues and organizations across North America.”
“Darin is someone I trust deeply for his thoughtful guidance and perspective,” said ICCFA Executive Director Nadira Baddeliyanage. “He has been a mentor to me and a leader I greatly admire—someone I can always turn to for honest, actionable advice. Darin is unwavering in his commitment to doing what is right, and his counsel has made a meaningful impact on me and on ICCFA.”
The 2026 ICCFA Experience will bring together cemetery, cremation, and funeral professionals from around the world for education, networking, and celebration of excellence, along with a robust trade show showcasing the latest products, services, and innovations supporting the profession. Drabing’s induction into the ICCFA Hall of Fame will be part of the President’s Banquet on Wednesday, April 29th. For more information on the event and to register, visit www.iccfa.com/annual.
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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral, and memorialization profession. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home, and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.
