Does this face seem familiar? Burt Shavitz, founder and face of Burt’s Bees died Sunday night at the old age of 80.
Also known as “The Bee Man”, Shavitz was a free-spirited beekeeper who lived in Maine. In 1984, he joined up with Roxanne Quimby where they started a business together.
In the beginning, Quimby would use the leftover wax from Shavitz’s beehive to make candles and lip balm reports People. After seven years, the brand hit the market and has become increasingly popular.
The company relocated to North Carolina in 1994, the same time where the partnership between Shavitz and Quimby ended. In 2007, Clorox bought the franchise for $925 million.
Shavitz didn’t let the sudden success get to his head and remained in his old farmhouse for the rest of his life.
“Burt was a complex man who sought a simple life in pace with the seasons of nature on his land,” his company explained. “If there is one thing we will remember from Burt’s life, in our fast-paced, hi-tech culture, it’s to never lose sight of our relationship with nature.”
USA Today reports that Shavitz died of a respiratory complication.
To share thoughts or condolences about Burt, tweet a message with the hashtag #burtliveson.