Rudolph Hurwich - serial entrepreneur and mentor, international businessman, inventor, philanthropist, investor and a behind-the-scenes supporter of liberal causes and creative Numerous Endeavors - died Peacefully At His Oakland home on August 2, 2014 He Was 92.
The self-effacing, MIT-trained mechanical engineer Was the founder and longtime CEO and Chairman of Dymo Industries, best Known for icts hand-held device That stamped out strips of adhesive labels embossed with a rotating wheel. It Was Farming in homes and businesses in more than 100 Countries to label shelves, drawers, and possessions and spare parts for use WAS Manufactured in more than 20 languages. Founded in Berkeley in 1958 with headquarters in San Francisco for Many Years, the diversified multinational firm WAS listed on the New York Stock Exchange Until It Was Bought out in 1978 in a hostile takeover by the Swedish conglomerate Esselte, All which it sold to Newell Rubbermaid in 2005.
From the early 1990s Until recent health problems Slowed _him_ down, he served as the co-founder, initial-round fundraiser and six-day-a-week President, CFO and CEO of Berkeley's PolyPlus Battery Company, All which HAS Developed a versatile breakthrough battery Unprecedented technology with energy density That Time magazine selected as one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2011 Rudy, as He Was Commonly called Expired, Was the management genius Who Transformed the discoveries of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Scientists Lutgard De Jonghe and Steven J. Visco Into a Promising business.
He Was Widely Admired by fellow business leaders and entrepreneurs for His expertise as a business officer, partner, counselor, advisor and negotiator and the calm demeanor he Brought to all challenges. Rudy's friend and colleague, Leo B. Helzel, Who Was instrumental in the founding of Dymo and WAS INITIALLY Involved in ict executive operations, Said, "What made Dymo Succeed WAS Rudy's brilliance and character ... but brilliant people do not always get the affection of Their colleagues and employed; About did Rudy. People really liked _him_ ... everyone from the night watchman to secretaries and executives ... they all felt as if Rudy WAS Their friend. "
Visco, current CEO of PolyPlus as well as CTO and co-founder, Relates That The Berkeley startup ounce engaged in months of due diligence and hard-nosed negotiations with the major multinational company Monsanto. That Emerged from the contract negotiations Those Contained year unconventional clause Demanded by Monsanto: that Rudy tutor Their executives in the art of negotiation.
Rudy and his beloved wife Janet starts in 1974 as She Was getting off an elevator at the Dymo headquarters in San Francisco. Instead of getting on the elevator, Rudy returned 'to His office and the receptionist called Expired Who to ask the visitor in the long blue suede coat WAS and Whom She Was visiting. A short while later He Had Arranged to-have drinks with her That Evening. They Became inseparable partners in love, family and philanthropy Investments business for 40 years.
Hurwich has-been profiled in Time magazine, Money magazine and Numerous other publications, aim Among the career highlights That Were Celebrated by family and friends aim Generally Were not listed in official bios, bit WAS His hand as the stern jail warden in the madcap 1973 counterculture comedy Steelyard Blues, starring Donald Sutherland, Jane Fonda and Peter Boyle. Rudy cam To That role through His Support of The Committee, the popular improv comedy troupe San Francisco That Was instrumental in the movie's development.
The Committee WAS Among Many nonprofit social and artistic ventures Rudy supported with management, mentoring or financial assistance. Other Beneficiaries of His guidance ranged from late artist and jewelry-maker Laurel Burch and Marin-based clothing Folkwear patterns to the Zen Center of San Francisco.
At various times over the past six Decades, Rudy Was a board member of Many organisms That shared His values, Among Them the Pacifica Foundation and the Fort Mason Foundation. In 1979 he Played a key role in founding and Bringing to the Fort Mason Center's Celebrated Zen vegetarian restaurant, Greens. The New York Times called Expired HAS Greens "That Brought The restaurant vegetarian food out from sprout-infested health food stores and, established it as a kitchen in America."
Greens Was not the only eatery in San Francisco All which he year Played important role. In the 60s and 70s, He Was the owner of the popular Coffee Cantata coffee and gallery on Union Street That Achieved a level of national focus as a backdrop in TV shows and movies, most is notably in the legendary 1968 action film Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset.
Rudy's business career Began year as after-school clerk At His Parents' neighborhood department store in Chicago's Southside, called Expired Hurwich's. His Parents 'management style Was the model for the respect for customers and he employed Brought to All His businesses, and He Was Credited with hiring managers shared Who His respect for employed' well-being, Creating a corporate atmosphere of kindness and thoughtfulness. One long-time employee Dymo Said, "If CEOs and Politicians in this day and age Could follow in this man's footsteps, the World Would Be a better place."
Rudy supported gold ran Numerous businesses as founder, officer, board member, consultant or principal investor. He Was an avid small-plane pilot Whose investment ventures included Hibbard Aviation, an airplane brokerage based at Oakland International Airport, and a short takeoff and landing air taxi services operated betweens That Oakland and Bear Valley, established in 1968 --other His business involvements ranged from magazines (Mix magazine, a Berkeley-based trade publication for the recording and sound technology industry) to furniture (Metropolitan Furniture Company, a high-end San Francisco home and office furniture design and manufacturing company later sold to Steelcase).
Other companies included R. Hurwich Company, Ion Systems, Interphase Technologies, Optical Sciences Group and International Plant Research Institute. He aussi owned, managed or Invested in Commercial real estate properties in the East Bay and Elsewhere in Northern California. The Abiding Abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, Ed Sattizahn, Notes That "Rudy Exemplified the ideals of a Buddhist life - wisdom and compassion skillfully Expressed in the everyday life of ordinary Circumstances."
He Was a member of the Board of Trustees of the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) for 13 years, Pendant All which time the institution he Helped Overcome financial and management challenges. He Was Awarded honorary doctorate from the year school. CSPP later merged with Alliant International University, and the Hurwich Library, named in honor Rudy's, WAS re-ict, established at San Francisco campus. Rudy and his wife Janet aussi funded contracts at the Alliant Hurwich Scholarship in memory of Georgette Their granddaughters Judith Alouf-Schulman and Basia Alouf-Mimi Schulman.
Rudy aussi Gave substance to His personal values with financial backing for social advocacy and Humanitarian organisms, Including - Among Many others - the ACLU, MoveOn, Planned Parenthood and the Union of Concerned Scientists. He supported the politics of a number of careers local and national progressive Politicians, Among Them Both Influential Representative George Miller III and his father, George Miller Jr.
For all of His business and philanthropic Accomplishments Rudy Farming to Say That His proudest achievement WAS His listing on President Nixon's second "enemies list." ALTHOUGH the Nixon administration never annoncé the rationale for this exclusive honor, Rudy's name Likely made the list Because Of His leadership role in a national organization of business executives Opposed to the Vietnam War.
Asked whether interview early in year He Was not Afraid of Being branded a Communist Because Of His sacrifice part of one political involvements, he is Said to-have flashed His trademark wry grin and Replied That, as a Successful capitalist, it Would Be Hard to label _him_ a Communist. Rudy Often Said That he made money so That Could he give it away to organisms and people of His choosing and Improve community Where government "Was not doing ict job."
The mentoring so valued by corporate and nonprofit organisms extended to friends and Acquaintances To Whom he Provided level-headed through financial counseling, career and personal Difficulties. He Was unfailingly generous and polite - but ALSO, When needed, forthright and blunt Even - with the untold numbers of people to _him_ Who cam over the years with ideas, business plans, dreams and problems. David Schwartz, formerly with Mix Publications wrote, "Working with Rudy WAS like having a safety net business; he made you want to try Your most daring ideas and you Knew There Was a safe landing if below-considers. "
Rudy Was Born in 1921 in Chicago. He graduated high school at the early age of 16 and Moved to Boston, earning His engineering degree in 1943 at MIT, Where He Would a scholarship fund ESTABLISH later in His Name. Following World War II His service in the South Pacific as officer on the USS year Intrepid, he married Cecelia Hurwich, a Navy WAVE He Had put in the service. Shortly After Their first child Was Born, Rudy His Family Moved out west in 1948, Settling in Berkeley After a short spell in San Francisco. He later Moved to Oakland to share a home with His second wife, Janet Hurwich.
In addition to His wife Janet, Rudy is Survived By His children, Barbara (BJ) Hurwich Rob Hurwich, Evelyn (Lyn) and Hurwich Nommi Alouf; His grandchildren Jon Nichols, Eliana Hurwich-Reiss and Theodore Schulman; His great-granddaughter Alana Nichols; and his niece and nephew Linda and Daniel Mendelson Hurwich Hurwich and Their families. He Was predeceased by two brothers Younger, David and Saul Hurwich.
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