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Article: Built Helene Curtis into $1 bil. business
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- July 12, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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GERALD S. GIDWITZ 1906-2006
Gerald S. Gidwitz built a small mudpack company into a $1 billion
cosmetics giant, labored to stop the spread of communism, created
programs to put welfare recipients to work, promoted education -- and
still found time to play competitive tennis and grow new varieties of
orchids.
"He was really a Renaissance man," said his son Ron. "He was
interested in art; he was particularly interested in science; he was
absolutely interested in foreign policy and foreign affairs and
taught his children -- which I am proud to be a beneficiary of --
that it's important to give back to the community.
"And he did it by example."
Mr. Gidwitz died at his Near North Side home ...