Russ Berrie: 1933–2002

Russell Berrie, founder of Russ Berrie & Co., Oakland, N.J., died on Christmas Day, 2002, from heart failure. Berrie was on the eve of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the company he founded in his garage in 1963. It has grown to become one of the world's largest gift companies with 1,700 employees and sales of nearly $300 million. Berrie was also well known for his philanthropic endeavors, granting millions of dollars to a variety of organizations. Most recently, he contributed $5 million to establish a school of professional selling at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. Other Russell Berrie Foundation grantees include the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in Manhattan; the Russ Berrie Home for Senior Living in Rockleigh, NJ; the Russell and Angelica Berrie Medical Pavilion at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ; and the Center for Inter-religious Understanding in Secaucus, NJ. "I'm proud of building a business," he once said. "But I'm most proud of the things I've been able to do for people." Russ Berrie is survived by his wife, Angelica; sons Brett, Richard, Scott, and David; daughters Leslie and Nicole; two grandchildren; and brothers Murray and Wally.