William S. Epstein, former executive vice president at Pilgrim Plastic Products Company and past president of the PPAI Board of Directors, passed away Friday. He was 87.
Epstein joined the promotional products industry as an intern at supplier Pilgrim Plastic Products through Northeastern University’s co-op program. After graduation, he went to work for Pilgrim full time and spent 45 years with the company before retiring in 1998.
He was a founder of WRAPP-V (Worldwide, Roburn, Artmold, Pilgrim, Providence and Vitronic), the first traveling supplier group to award incentive travel to distributors based on volume sales. With WRAPP-V, Epstein planned incentive trips around the world. He served PPAI committees, on the PPAI Board and was president in 1982-1983. He also was an active volunteer with the New England Promotional Products Association (NEPPA). His accomplishments outside the industry include serving as past master of the Adelphi Masonic Lodge.
Epstein is survived by his wife, Ethel Epstein; his children: son Marc and his wife Annette, daughter Amy and her husband Paul; and son Aaron; sister Judy Epstein; former wife Myrna Epstein; grandchildren Dana and Matt Starr; Zachary Holt;); Avidan Edelsberg; Daniel Edelsberg and Kerren Edelsberg; and great-grandchild Syren Edelsberg. He was preceeded in death by his grandson Paul Epstein.
A service for Epstein was held today at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel in Canton, Massachusetts, with burial at Sharon Memorial Park and shiva at the home of Marc and Annette Epstein immediately following the burial. Shiva will also be held on Wednesday and Thursday from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at Marc and Annette’s home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or MDSC Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress.