Buccellati Patriarch, Gianmaria Buccellati, Dies At Age 86

Gianmaria Buccellati

The man most credited for turning a family owned jewelry business into the international luxury brand, Buccellati, has died, according to family members and reports.

Gianmaria Buccellati died Saturday at the age of 86, according to a report in the Italian publication, Arts Life.

The Buccellati family confirmed the death in a brief announcement—written by Andrea Buccellati, one of Gianmaria’s three children and Buccellati president and creative director—sent from the brand’s US office Monday via e-mail. It reads as follows:

“With my deepest sorrow and together with my brother and sister and their families, and my father’s wife Rosie, I would like to inform you that Gianmaria – Honorary President of the Group – passed away last night.

“We want to remember him with affection for his great entrepreneurial spirit and the creative genius that made him famous in the whole world.”

Buccellati’s roots go back to 1919 when Mario Buccellati (Gianmaria’s father) opened a store on Largo Santa Margherita in Milan, Italy. However, it was Gianmaria’s vision that brought the company to international fame, opening stores in Paris on Place Vendome, London, Moscow, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hong Kong, Milan via Monte Napoleone, Costa Smeralda, Capri, Elba, Beverly Hills in Rodeo Drive, Aspen and Sydney. The company already had a New York boutique founded by his father.

In a 2012 interview in Elite Traveler Gianmaria explained the international growth:

“After my father’s death in 1965, my three brothers and I founded MABUTI S.r.l to carry on the family tradition but as the brand grew two of our brothers chose to stay in Italy to pursue less hectic lifestyles. Eventually my brother Luca and I broke off to pursue our worldwide vision, creating Buccellati in the process.”

Gianmaria also served as creative director of the brand, which he officially relinquished to Andrea last year. It is tradition that a family member creates all of Buccellati’s designs.

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Matie Anne Patterson Gatz, 64, JCK Art Director

For nine years I worked at JCK Publishing Group and most of those years were good. One of the reasons was because of Matie Anne Patterson, who was one of our two art directors, a position she held from 1998 till 2004. Matie died December 27, on her wedding anniversary, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 64.

The Telford, Pa., resident worked on several JCK publications, including Trendz, Luxury International, and Facets. Hedda T. Schupak, former JCK editor-in-chief, said that Matie’s “clean design sense and tireless efforts created a sharper, more elegant” look for the publications.

I remember Matie as a quiet and strong person who was able to create sleek, stylized pages for her publications. During the past few days, those who worked with her have been talking about her smile, which was a constant part of her personality. Matie fought breast cancer in the same way she took on her daily tasks in the office—quietly, with strength, dignity and with a smile.

Matie was born in Upland, Pa., on March 5, 1947, to William and Wilhelmina "Billie" Patterson, the founders of Patterson Funeral Home in Media, Pa, now Cavanagh-Patterson. She attended the Media Public Schools and graduated in 1965. Upon graduating from high school, she enrolled in the Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, majoring in illustration. During her career, she worked as an art director, designer, and illustrator at North American Publishing Co., InterMed Communications on nursing journals, before working for JCK.

She enjoyed traveling with her husband, as well as dancing, snorkeling, swimming, attending minor league baseball games, gardening, and decorating her home. Family and friends will remember Matie for her endearing sense of humor, compassion, calmness, and extraordinary artistic ability.

Survivors include her husband David Gatz; his children and grandchildren; brother William "Pat" Patterson of Livermore, Calif; cousin John Suplee of West Chester, Pa; and many friends. Visitation/Service will be held on Friday, December 30, at Cavanagh Patterson Funeral Home in Media, Pa. Calling hours are 10 to 11 a.m. with a service to follow at 11 a.m.

Ulysse Nardin Shocked and Saddened by Sudden Death of its CEO

Rolf W. Schnyder, CEO of the Swiss watch manufacturer Ulysse Nardin, unexpectedly died on April 14 after a short illness. He was 76.

“With the passing of Rolf W. Schnyder, the watchmaking industry has lost one of its greatest visionaries, while Ulysse Nardin has lost an important source of innovation for the firm. We are profoundly moved and distraught at this sudden loss. Our full sympathies are with his wife and his three children, to whom we would like to express our sincere condolences,” said Susanne Hurni, press officer and head of media relations at Ulysse Nardin.

“Because a succession plan was already in place, the operational running of the business by the current members of management can be kept going without interruption, and continued in the spirit of Rolf W. Schnyder’s vision,” Hurni added.
 
Rolf W. Schnyder had acquired the family firm Ulysse Nardin in 1983, and since that time held the role of president and CEO at the helm of the manufacturer with its wealth of tradition. Under his leadership, Ulysse Nardin rose once more to the top of the mechanical watchmaking sector, with numerous innovations such as the first astronomical wrist watches.

The company is based in Le Locle.

Bill Pope, Synthetic Diamond Pioneer, 88

Bill Jordan Pope, recognized for his pioneering contributions in the development of synthetic diamond manufacturing for multiple industries from oil and gas drilling to diamond-coated hip joints, died Tuesday afternoon at his home in Springville, Utah, from natural causes. He was 88

As a renowned scientist who helped found three Utah companies, he was awarded the Utah Governor's Silver Medal Award for science and technology. As a chemical engineering professor and business mentor at Brigham Young University for 20 years, he inspired hundreds of aspiring business leaders.

Mr. Pope was extremely active in business development in Utah where he served as president of MegaDiamond, US Synthetic and Dimicron, all involving the manufacturing and use of synthetic diamonds.

"Bill's accomplishments in the synthetic diamond industry are legendary," said Terry Kane, executive director, Industrial Diamond Association of America. "There are many that have admired and will continue to admire his tremendous work and great innovations for generations to come. He will be greatly missed."

In 1966, Mr. Pope partnered with fellow Brigham Young University professor Duane Horton and Howard Tracy Hall, the first person to produce diamond from carbon using a verifiable and reproducible process, to form Megadiamond, a company that manufactures diamond products for industrial applications.

In 1972, he and his son Louis founded US Synthetic, which manufactures diamond inserts for applications in down-hole drilling tools. In 1998, he founded Dimicron Inc., which makes orthopedic parts for humans out of a diamond and metal composite called Poly-crystalline Diamond Compact.

"As one of the founding fathers of US Synthetic, Bill Pope had a profound influence on the people around him, the business, science and entire HPHT diamond industry," said Rob Galloway, president and CEO of the Orem, Utah based company. "We owe Bill a great debt of gratitude for his fortitude and unquenchable enthusiasm and support for our continued success."

Mr. Pope was active in civic affairs-serving in numerous leadership positions that saw him receive awards and honors including: Utah Valley University's Excellence in Ethics Award, the Freedom Festival's Pioneer of Progress Award, and the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum's Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

His philanthropic generosity was known to both BYU and the University of Utah, where the Science Building is named in his honor and perpetual scholarships at both universities have been established. The Center for Humanitarian Outreach and Intercultural Exchange twice honored Mr. Pope with the Helping Hands Award. And the Provo and Orem Chamber of Commerce recognized Mr. Pope with the Arthur Watkins Award for Businessman of the Year. Mr. Pope has served in numerous volunteer positions in his community and church including bishop, stake president, and regional representative.

Mr. Pope received engineering degrees from the UVU and a PhD from the University of Washington. He received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Business from Utah Valley University. The alumni at BYU also honored Mr. Pope with Emeriti Award for his contributions to the community.

Two video tributes follow:

Mr. Pope is survived by his wife Margaret McConkie Pope, his son Louis and wife Chriss, his daughter Leslie and husband Alan Layton, his daughter Kathryn and husband David Paxman, his daughter Patrice and husband Wayne Tew, 28 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held December 4 at the Hobble Creek Stake Center in Springville. Condolences may be sent to the family through the Berg Mortuary of Provo.

Nicolas G. Hayek, founder of Swatch Group, 82

The man who is credited with having saved the Swiss watch industry in the age of the “quartz” watch boom has died.

Nicolas Hayek, founder and chairman of the Swatch Group, died of heart failure Monday while working at the company’s headquarters in Biel, Switzerland, according to an announcement on the Swatch Group’s Web site. He was 82.

“Mr. Nicolas G. Hayek's greatest merit was his enormous contribution to the saving of the Swiss watch industry and the foundation and the commercial development of the Swatch Group,” the statement on the company’s Web site read. “(His) extraordinary vision enabled him to realize and ensure the sustainability of a strong watchmaking enterprise with high Swiss added value. He is rightly recognized as a leading entrepreneur in this country.”

The Lebanese-born business consultant and engineer was asked by creditor banks to reorganize and possibly close a group of mechanical watchmakers and component suppliers suffering in the early 1980s as watchmakers from Japan undercut Swiss prices and moved public tastes from mechanical to digital watches. Rather than follow the creditors’ opinion, he and some partners spotted the business's potential and invested in its future. He merged two of its former companies, Asuag and SSIH, which between them owned brands like Omega, Longines and Tissot.

In 1983, he launched the Swatch, a technological innovative watch manufactured far more easily than conventional watches by greatly reducing components and automating many processes. The Swatch soon became prized for its bright bands and novelty faces and developed into a global fashion item.

Over the years, the various manufacturing companies were restructured and, in 1998, renamed Swatch Group after their most familiar product. Brands and watch component companies were also acquired. The company owns 19 brands and sales this year are expected to exceed $5.8 billion.

Hayek had handed the chief executive's role to his son, Nick. However, he remained Swatch Group's chairman.

Read his obituary in The New York Times.