Boca Raton, Fla. – Gemini Industries founder and long-time chief exec, Sandy Garfinkle, died of cancer Jan. 25 at his home here. He was 67.
Garfinkle, was ‘a true entrepreneur, who will be remembered for his kindness and concern for Gemini and its employees,’ said a Gemini spokesperson in a statement to current employees. ‘His gentlemanly dignity was evident to all who knew him,’ said the statement. ‘He was really liked by the employees — he was very much a father figure who tried to have a family atmosphere at the company.’
Not only was Garfinkle an active philanthropist, who supported a wide variety of causes, he also was an avid supporter of the tradition of wildfowl carvings, a hobby that stemmed from his love of nature and the arts. Most of his collection of works from artists of this uniquely American art form will be given to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Md.
Services were held here on Monday.
Garfinkle, who founded consumer electronics accessories-company Gemini, in 1964 — heading the supplier as CEO until his retirement in 1995 — shepherded its growth into a multi-million-dollar operation. Under Garfinkle’s watch, Gemini was sold to Wesray in 1985 and to Merrill Lynch Capital Partners in 1989.
In the past 40 years, Clifton, N.J.-based Gemini, which at its inception was a small metal fabricating firm, has grown into a company that supplies retailers globally over 2,500 CE accessories products. These cover the telephone, audio, video and computer categories under such brand names as Zenith, Philips, Philips Magnavox, Southwestern Bell Freedom Phone and Gemini.
Garfinkle is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rani, and his children Suzy Garfinkle Chevrier, Benjamin Garfinkle, Steven and Victoria Garfinkle, and eight grandchildren.
