Co-founder of Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. dies at 75
Co-founder of Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. dies at 75
The year 1953 was quite eventful for Tanya Auerbach, a wife, mother, grandmother and produce industry executive who died earlier this month. It was the year she graduated from college, co-founded a garlic company and got married.
Tanya (nee Kaplan) Auerbach was born Jan. 28, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, where she was raised. She and Irwin Auerbach founded Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. in Mr. Auerbach's mother's home in Brooklyn in 1953 as a distributor handling a single item: garlic. The company was named for Mr. Auerbach's father.
Ms. Auerbach earned a bachelor of arts degree from Hunter College in New York City in 1953, and married Mr. Auerbach Dec. 27 of that year. Mr. Auerbach died in January 1992.
Ms. Auerbach, a resident of Washington Township, NJ, died Wednesday, Aug. 15 at home following a long battle with cancer, "surrounded by those she loved," as her son-in-law Jeff Schwartz put it. She was 75 and also had a home in Boynton Beach, FL.
The company was founded as an importer of garlic, since at that time virtually all garlic came from Italy, Mr. Schwartz told The Produce News. Supplies from Italy were curtailed during World War II, so the company looked to California. After the war, Italy returned to its prominent place as a garlic source, and the Auerbachs again started importing. It was not until the late 1950s that California became a major source of garlic and the location of choice for the Auerbachs and others in the garlic deal, according to Mr. Schwartz.
Also in the mid- to late 1950s, the company took office space at the old Washington Market in Lower Manhattan, where it remained until 1962, when it moved to the Ozone Park section of Queens, NY. The company moved again, in 1994, to its current location in South Hackensack, NJ.
Initially a stay-at-home mother, Ms. Auerbach concentrated primarily on financial administration during the company's early years. As her children got older, she became more actively involved in many areas, including buying, inventory, warehousing, expansion, fixtures and machinery, said Mr. Schwartz.
Shallots were added to the product line around 1970, and ginger root around 1971-72. Her son, Paul, became more active in the business in the mid-1970s, and many more items were added after that.
"She and Irwin were true partners," recalled Mr. Schwartz. "She accompanied him on buying trips. She was always present at the [trade] shows, and she accompanied him to the growing areas. He was the boss, but I don't think he ever made a decision without consulting her."
Ms. Auerbach, who was secretary and treasurer of the company, is survived by her son, Paul, who is president and chief executive officer of the company, and his wife, Randy; her daughter, Marcia Schwartz, and her husband, Jeff, who is vice president of the company; her sister, Myra (Mickey) Haberman and her husband, Irwin; her grandchildren Amy, Josh (who joined the company in March 2006), Ian, Gregory and Amanda; and many nieces and nephews.
"No change in operations is anticipated," Mr. Schwartz stated.
The family requests that donations may be made to the Jewish Community Center of Paramus, 304 E. Midland Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652; or to the American Cancer Society, 20 Mercer St., Hackensack, NJ 07601.
Tanya (nee Kaplan) Auerbach was born Jan. 28, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, where she was raised. She and Irwin Auerbach founded Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. in Mr. Auerbach's mother's home in Brooklyn in 1953 as a distributor handling a single item: garlic. The company was named for Mr. Auerbach's father.
Ms. Auerbach earned a bachelor of arts degree from Hunter College in New York City in 1953, and married Mr. Auerbach Dec. 27 of that year. Mr. Auerbach died in January 1992.
Ms. Auerbach, a resident of Washington Township, NJ, died Wednesday, Aug. 15 at home following a long battle with cancer, "surrounded by those she loved," as her son-in-law Jeff Schwartz put it. She was 75 and also had a home in Boynton Beach, FL.
The company was founded as an importer of garlic, since at that time virtually all garlic came from Italy, Mr. Schwartz told The Produce News. Supplies from Italy were curtailed during World War II, so the company looked to California. After the war, Italy returned to its prominent place as a garlic source, and the Auerbachs again started importing. It was not until the late 1950s that California became a major source of garlic and the location of choice for the Auerbachs and others in the garlic deal, according to Mr. Schwartz.
Also in the mid- to late 1950s, the company took office space at the old Washington Market in Lower Manhattan, where it remained until 1962, when it moved to the Ozone Park section of Queens, NY. The company moved again, in 1994, to its current location in South Hackensack, NJ.
Initially a stay-at-home mother, Ms. Auerbach concentrated primarily on financial administration during the company's early years. As her children got older, she became more actively involved in many areas, including buying, inventory, warehousing, expansion, fixtures and machinery, said Mr. Schwartz.
Shallots were added to the product line around 1970, and ginger root around 1971-72. Her son, Paul, became more active in the business in the mid-1970s, and many more items were added after that.
"She and Irwin were true partners," recalled Mr. Schwartz. "She accompanied him on buying trips. She was always present at the [trade] shows, and she accompanied him to the growing areas. He was the boss, but I don't think he ever made a decision without consulting her."
Ms. Auerbach, who was secretary and treasurer of the company, is survived by her son, Paul, who is president and chief executive officer of the company, and his wife, Randy; her daughter, Marcia Schwartz, and her husband, Jeff, who is vice president of the company; her sister, Myra (Mickey) Haberman and her husband, Irwin; her grandchildren Amy, Josh (who joined the company in March 2006), Ian, Gregory and Amanda; and many nieces and nephews.
"No change in operations is anticipated," Mr. Schwartz stated.
The family requests that donations may be made to the Jewish Community Center of Paramus, 304 E. Midland Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652; or to the American Cancer Society, 20 Mercer St., Hackensack, NJ 07601.
