Emanuel Bronner was born in Heilbron Germany, into an Orthodox Jewish family. (Their last name was Heilbronner, but Dr. Bronner dropped the "heil" part in protest of Hitler.)
The family business was making soap, and Emanuel followed in their footsteps, he was certified as a master soap-maker in Germany under the rigorous guild system of the time.
He was the heir to the family's soap factory and business, but he went his own way and came to the United States in the late 1920's. After the Nazis nationalized the soap factory in 1938, his parents and most of his family were murdered by Nazi's in the Holocaust.
Prior to the war, Dr. Bronner pleaded with his father to come to the United States, but his father always refused. The last time Dr. Bronner heard from his family was in the form of a post-card, it read: "You were right. --Your loving father."
He formulated and sold his pure castille soaps and was an iconic figure in the 60s & 70s. His soaps are still well known today and are sold in natural health food stores across the entire United States. (I challenge you to find one health food store which doesn't sell his soap, I bet you cannot find one!)
He also had his own philosophy, "All-One-God-Faith" and each soap label has his philosophy outlined on it.Was Dr. Bronner an essene rabbi? I'm not sure, but he definitely felt strongly about his beliefs.
His company was (and still is) run ethically and without compromise. The company once donated a thousand-acre rain forest worth more than $1 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs. Over the years, it has funded an orphanage in China, a chemistry lab in a Mexican school, freshwater wells in Ghana, homes for special children, college scholarships in foreign affairs, and homeless shelters.
His tombstone pretty much sums it up, it reads:"A Life Dedicated To God, Mankind & Spaceship Earth."
I haven't yet found where he is buried, but once I do I will update this interment.
Cause of Death: Parkinsons Disease∼North County Times, Oceanside, California ~ 08 Mar 1997, Sat • Page 21
ESCONDIDO -- Emmanuel H. Bronner, 89, died Friday, March 7, 1997, in Escondido.
Born February 1, 1908, in Germany, he lived in Escondido for 40 years. He was a self-employed soap manufacturer in Dr. Bronner's Soap Factory in Escondido for approximately 65 years. He was well-known throughout the United States.
Mr. Bronner is survived by his wife of 30 years, Gladys Bronner of Escondido; sons, Ralph Bronner of Wisconsin and Jim Bronner of Escondido; sisters, Louise Bronner of Massachusetts and Lottie Reches of Israel; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Funeral service at McLeod Mortuary Chapel, Rabbi Mark Hurvitz officiating. Burial in Oak Hill Memorial Park.
Memorials suggested to be given to Boys & Girls Club of Escondido.
The family business was making soap, and Emanuel followed in their footsteps, he was certified as a master soap-maker in Germany under the rigorous guild system of the time.
He was the heir to the family's soap factory and business, but he went his own way and came to the United States in the late 1920's. After the Nazis nationalized the soap factory in 1938, his parents and most of his family were murdered by Nazi's in the Holocaust.
Prior to the war, Dr. Bronner pleaded with his father to come to the United States, but his father always refused. The last time Dr. Bronner heard from his family was in the form of a post-card, it read: "You were right. --Your loving father."
He formulated and sold his pure castille soaps and was an iconic figure in the 60s & 70s. His soaps are still well known today and are sold in natural health food stores across the entire United States. (I challenge you to find one health food store which doesn't sell his soap, I bet you cannot find one!)
He also had his own philosophy, "All-One-God-Faith" and each soap label has his philosophy outlined on it.Was Dr. Bronner an essene rabbi? I'm not sure, but he definitely felt strongly about his beliefs.
His company was (and still is) run ethically and without compromise. The company once donated a thousand-acre rain forest worth more than $1 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs. Over the years, it has funded an orphanage in China, a chemistry lab in a Mexican school, freshwater wells in Ghana, homes for special children, college scholarships in foreign affairs, and homeless shelters.
His tombstone pretty much sums it up, it reads:"A Life Dedicated To God, Mankind & Spaceship Earth."
I haven't yet found where he is buried, but once I do I will update this interment.
Cause of Death: Parkinsons Disease∼North County Times, Oceanside, California ~ 08 Mar 1997, Sat • Page 21
ESCONDIDO -- Emmanuel H. Bronner, 89, died Friday, March 7, 1997, in Escondido.
Born February 1, 1908, in Germany, he lived in Escondido for 40 years. He was a self-employed soap manufacturer in Dr. Bronner's Soap Factory in Escondido for approximately 65 years. He was well-known throughout the United States.
Mr. Bronner is survived by his wife of 30 years, Gladys Bronner of Escondido; sons, Ralph Bronner of Wisconsin and Jim Bronner of Escondido; sisters, Louise Bronner of Massachusetts and Lottie Reches of Israel; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Funeral service at McLeod Mortuary Chapel, Rabbi Mark Hurvitz officiating. Burial in Oak Hill Memorial Park.
Memorials suggested to be given to Boys & Girls Club of Escondido.
Emanuel Bronner was born in Heilbron Germany, into an Orthodox Jewish family. (Their last name was Heilbronner, but Dr. Bronner dropped the "heil" part in protest of Hitler.)
The family business was making soap, and Emanuel followed in their footsteps, he was certified as a master soap-maker in Germany under the rigorous guild system of the time.
He was the heir to the family's soap factory and business, but he went his own way and came to the United States in the late 1920's. After the Nazis nationalized the soap factory in 1938, his parents and most of his family were murdered by Nazi's in the Holocaust.
Prior to the war, Dr. Bronner pleaded with his father to come to the United States, but his father always refused. The last time Dr. Bronner heard from his family was in the form of a post-card, it read: "You were right. --Your loving father."
He formulated and sold his pure castille soaps and was an iconic figure in the 60s & 70s. His soaps are still well known today and are sold in natural health food stores across the entire United States. (I challenge you to find one health food store which doesn't sell his soap, I bet you cannot find one!)
He also had his own philosophy, "All-One-God-Faith" and each soap label has his philosophy outlined on it.Was Dr. Bronner an essene rabbi? I'm not sure, but he definitely felt strongly about his beliefs.
His company was (and still is) run ethically and without compromise. The company once donated a thousand-acre rain forest worth more than $1 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs. Over the years, it has funded an orphanage in China, a chemistry lab in a Mexican school, freshwater wells in Ghana, homes for special children, college scholarships in foreign affairs, and homeless shelters.
His tombstone pretty much sums it up, it reads:"A Life Dedicated To God, Mankind & Spaceship Earth."
I haven't yet found where he is buried, but once I do I will update this interment.
Cause of Death: Parkinsons Disease∼North County Times, Oceanside, California ~ 08 Mar 1997, Sat • Page 21
ESCONDIDO -- Emmanuel H. Bronner, 89, died Friday, March 7, 1997, in Escondido.
Born February 1, 1908, in Germany, he lived in Escondido for 40 years. He was a self-employed soap manufacturer in Dr. Bronner's Soap Factory in Escondido for approximately 65 years. He was well-known throughout the United States.
Mr. Bronner is survived by his wife of 30 years, Gladys Bronner of Escondido; sons, Ralph Bronner of Wisconsin and Jim Bronner of Escondido; sisters, Louise Bronner of Massachusetts and Lottie Reches of Israel; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Funeral service at McLeod Mortuary Chapel, Rabbi Mark Hurvitz officiating. Burial in Oak Hill Memorial Park.
Memorials suggested to be given to Boys & Girls Club of Escondido.
The family business was making soap, and Emanuel followed in their footsteps, he was certified as a master soap-maker in Germany under the rigorous guild system of the time.
He was the heir to the family's soap factory and business, but he went his own way and came to the United States in the late 1920's. After the Nazis nationalized the soap factory in 1938, his parents and most of his family were murdered by Nazi's in the Holocaust.
Prior to the war, Dr. Bronner pleaded with his father to come to the United States, but his father always refused. The last time Dr. Bronner heard from his family was in the form of a post-card, it read: "You were right. --Your loving father."
He formulated and sold his pure castille soaps and was an iconic figure in the 60s & 70s. His soaps are still well known today and are sold in natural health food stores across the entire United States. (I challenge you to find one health food store which doesn't sell his soap, I bet you cannot find one!)
He also had his own philosophy, "All-One-God-Faith" and each soap label has his philosophy outlined on it.Was Dr. Bronner an essene rabbi? I'm not sure, but he definitely felt strongly about his beliefs.
His company was (and still is) run ethically and without compromise. The company once donated a thousand-acre rain forest worth more than $1 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs. Over the years, it has funded an orphanage in China, a chemistry lab in a Mexican school, freshwater wells in Ghana, homes for special children, college scholarships in foreign affairs, and homeless shelters.
His tombstone pretty much sums it up, it reads:"A Life Dedicated To God, Mankind & Spaceship Earth."
I haven't yet found where he is buried, but once I do I will update this interment.
Cause of Death: Parkinsons Disease∼North County Times, Oceanside, California ~ 08 Mar 1997, Sat • Page 21
ESCONDIDO -- Emmanuel H. Bronner, 89, died Friday, March 7, 1997, in Escondido.
Born February 1, 1908, in Germany, he lived in Escondido for 40 years. He was a self-employed soap manufacturer in Dr. Bronner's Soap Factory in Escondido for approximately 65 years. He was well-known throughout the United States.
Mr. Bronner is survived by his wife of 30 years, Gladys Bronner of Escondido; sons, Ralph Bronner of Wisconsin and Jim Bronner of Escondido; sisters, Louise Bronner of Massachusetts and Lottie Reches of Israel; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Funeral service at McLeod Mortuary Chapel, Rabbi Mark Hurvitz officiating. Burial in Oak Hill Memorial Park.
Memorials suggested to be given to Boys & Girls Club of Escondido.
Inscription
"A Life Dedicated To God, Mankind & Spaceship Earth
Listen Children, Eternal Father, Eternally One"
