Bernard M. Gelson
Funeral services were held here last week for Bernard M. Gelson, co-founder of Gelson's Markets, who died at age 84. He had been in failing health for several years and died of pneumonia. Gelson and his brother Eugene opened the first Gelson's Market in 1951 in Burbank, Calif. -- an upscale store emphasizing quality products and superior customer service. In 1966, they sold the company to Arden-Mayfair, now Arden Group. However, they continued to oversee the chain, with Eugene Gelson as chairman and Bernard Gelson as president and chief executive officer. Eugene Gelson died in 1980, and Bernard Gelson continued to run the company until his retirement in 1986. Bernard Briskin, chairman of Arden, described Gelson as "a terrific man, and the ultimate retailer. The customer came first, no matter what, and he trained his people to appreciate that."
Herbert A. Rippley
BOONVILLE, Mo. -- Services were held here last month for former cooperative wholesaling executive Herbert A. Rippley, who died of natural causes at the age of 85. Rippley began his career in the food industry in 1952 as the office manager for Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich. His career in retailer-owned food distribution took him to Affiliated Food Stores, Dallas, as an assistant general manager from 1961 to 1966. He later was president and chief executive officer of Associated Grocers, Dennison, Ohio, until he retired in 1982. Rippley also served on the board of directors and was vice chairman of Shurfine Central Corp., Northlake, Ill. He and his wife Virginia had been living in Dallas for the last few years of his retirement. He is survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter and 11 grandchildren.
