Mr Coffee Cofounder Vince Marotta Dies

PEPPER PIKE, OH -- Vincent Marotta, who cofounded the legendary Mr. Coffee, died on Aug. 1 at his home here. He was 91.

Marotta and his business partner Samuel Glazer turned Mr. Coffee into a household name after hiring two Westinghouse engineers to develop a drip-brewing system for the home market like those used in restaurants and by operators constituting the new office coffee service industry. Prior to their machine, home coffee was primarily made in percolators, which often imparted a bitter flavor.

They formed North American Systems Inc. in 1972 to manufacture and market the brewers, and sold more than 1 million units within the first three years. In 1973, Marotta convinced former baseball player Joe DiMaggio to become a spokesman for the brand.

The partners sold the company for $182 million in 1987 in a leveraged buyout. The Mr. Coffee brand has changed ownership several times, most recently in 2005 when it was purchased by consumer products giant Jarden Corp.

Marotta is survived by his wife Ann, six children and 11 grandchildren.

Glazer died in 2012. | SEE STORY