Burt Shavitz, Co-Founder of Burt's Bees, Dies at 80

Burt Shavitz, the man who co-founded Burt's Bees natural cosmetics, died over the weekend in Maine. He was 80.

Shavitz, who lived in Parkman, Maine, and once worked as a photographer in New York City, was selling honey before he started his company with Roxanne Quimby in the 1980s, the Bangor Daily News reported. An announcement of his death was posted on the Burt's Bees Facebook page.




A spokeswoman for Burt's Bees told USA Today that Shavitz was surrounded by family and friends when he died Sunday of respiratory complications.

According to the documentary "Burt's Buzz," Shavitz was moving from New York to Maine when he picked up a hitchhiking Quimby.

The documentary said it was Quimby's idea to turn the beeswax Shavitz was saving from his honey business to make lip balm and other products, according to the Daily News. Together, they started Burt's Bees, a line of all-natural products, and eventually moved the headquarters from Maine to North Carolina.

Shavitz's bearded face became the recognizable brand of the products, but his partnership with Quimby ended 1994, according to USA Today. In 2007, Clorox purchased Burt's Bees for $925 million.

Many on social media still connect Shavitz with the Burt's Bees products.

Burt's Bees co-founder Burt Shavitz RIP. Sad. But because of his love for honey bees and nature, a great company was born #BurtLivesOn

— Wendy Jo Avey (@wjoav) July 6, 2015

Burt Shavitz lived such a unique and wonderful seeming life. I strive to be more like him since discovering that. Thanks for the Bees💛🐝

— anissa on acid (@anissa_johnson) July 6, 2015

R.I.P Burt Shavitz. You were a great inspiration. Thank you. #protectthebees @BurtsBees :( pic.twitter.com/j5XcrU4jNc

— Michael Zamanillo (@MycoZed) July 5, 2015

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