Norman Cohn, an innovative leader, Chair Emeritus of the Advertising Specialty Institute in Trevose, and lifelong philanthropist, died on April 24 aged 93, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
A natural-born entrepreneur who started Santa Claus Industries in high school, Cohn later owned dozens of companies and, along with his wife Suzanne, emerged as a leading figure in Philadelphia’s business, civic, and social communities.
He relocated from Iowa to Philadelphia in the 1960s and soon acquired ASI with his father Maurice. In 1967, he became chair of the board and expanded the company into a promotional products powerhouse, linking manufacturers, printers, and distributors of logo-adorned gift bag items such as pens and mugs with buyers including companies, schools, and teams across 60 countries.
He created full-color catalogs and built a series of popular trade shows for ASI members over the years, earning the nickname “sultan of swag” from the Wall Street Journal in 2012.
“His legacy will not simply be remembered here,” said Ashish Mittal, chief executive officer at ASI. “It will be the foundation on which everything we do is built.”
Read more about Norman Cohn and his legacy as a philanthropist and innovative leader in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
_______
